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Mastrogiovanni M, Martínez-Navarro FJ, Bowman TV, Cayuela ML. Inflammation in Development and Aging: Insights from the Zebrafish Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2145. [PMID: 38396822 PMCID: PMC10889087 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042145] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish are an emergent animal model to study human diseases due to their significant genetic similarity to humans, swift development, and genetic manipulability. Their utility extends to the exploration of the involvement of inflammation in host defense, immune responses, and tissue regeneration. Additionally, the zebrafish model system facilitates prompt screening of chemical compounds that affect inflammation. This study explored the diverse roles of inflammatory pathways in zebrafish development and aging. Serving as a crucial model, zebrafish provides insights into the intricate interplay of inflammation in both developmental and aging contexts. The evidence presented suggests that the same inflammatory signaling pathways often play instructive or beneficial roles during embryogenesis and are associated with malignancies in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Mastrogiovanni
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Francisco Juan Martínez-Navarro
- Grupo de Telomerasa, Cáncer y Envejecimiento, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Arrixaca, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | - Teresa V. Bowman
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
- Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - María L. Cayuela
- Grupo de Telomerasa, Cáncer y Envejecimiento, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Arrixaca, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, 30100 Murcia, Spain
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2
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Martínez-Balsalobre E, García-Castillo J, García-Moreno D, Naranjo-Sánchez E, Fernández-Lajarín M, Blasco MA, Alcaraz-Pérez F, Mulero V, Cayuela ML. Telomerase RNA-based aptamers restore defective myelopoiesis in congenital neutropenic syndromes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5912. [PMID: 37737237 PMCID: PMC10516865 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41472-7] [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: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase RNA (TERC) has a noncanonical function in myelopoiesis binding to a consensus DNA binding sequence and attracting RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II), thus facilitating myeloid gene expression. The CR4/CR5 domain of TERC is known to play this role, since a mutation of this domain found in dyskeratosis congenita (DC) patients decreases its affinity for RNA Pol II, impairing its myelopoietic activity as a result. In this study, we report that two aptamers, short single-stranded oligonucleotides, based on the CR4/CR5 domain were able to increase myelopoiesis without affecting erythropoiesis in zebrafish. Mechanistically, the aptamers functioned as full terc; that is, they increased the expression of master myeloid genes, independently of endogenous terc, by interacting with RNA Pol II and with the terc-binding sequences of the regulatory regions of such genes, enforcing their transcription. Importantly, aptamers harboring the CR4/CR5 mutation that was found in DC patients failed to perform all these functions. The therapeutic potential of the aptamers for treating neutropenia was demonstrated in several preclinical models. The findings of this study have identified two potential therapeutic agents for DC and other neutropenic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Martínez-Balsalobre
- Grupo de Telomerasa, Cáncer y Envejecimiento, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, 30120, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Pascual Parrilla, 30120, Murcia, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús García-Castillo
- Grupo de Telomerasa, Cáncer y Envejecimiento, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, 30120, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Pascual Parrilla, 30120, Murcia, Spain
| | - Diana García-Moreno
- Grupo de Telomerasa, Cáncer y Envejecimiento, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, 30120, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Pascual Parrilla, 30120, Murcia, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Naranjo-Sánchez
- Grupo de Telomerasa, Cáncer y Envejecimiento, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, 30120, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Pascual Parrilla, 30120, Murcia, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miriam Fernández-Lajarín
- Grupo de Telomerasa, Cáncer y Envejecimiento, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, 30120, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Pascual Parrilla, 30120, Murcia, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - María A Blasco
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisca Alcaraz-Pérez
- Grupo de Telomerasa, Cáncer y Envejecimiento, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, 30120, Murcia, Spain.
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Pascual Parrilla, 30120, Murcia, Spain.
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Victoriano Mulero
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Pascual Parrilla, 30120, Murcia, Spain.
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - María L Cayuela
- Grupo de Telomerasa, Cáncer y Envejecimiento, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, 30120, Murcia, Spain.
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB) Pascual Parrilla, 30120, Murcia, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
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3
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Sanpedro-Luna JA, Vega-Alvarado L, Vázquez-Cruz C, Sánchez-Alonso P. Global Gene Expression of Post-Senescent Telomerase-Negative ter1Δ Strain of Ustilago maydis. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:896. [PMID: 37755003 PMCID: PMC10532341 DOI: 10.3390/jof9090896] [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: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
We analyzed the global expression patterns of telomerase-negative mutants from haploid cells of Ustilago maydis to identify the gene network required for cell survival in the absence of telomerase. Mutations in either of the telomerase core subunits (trt1 and ter1) of the dimorphic fungus U. maydis cause deficiencies in teliospore formation. We report the global transcriptome analysis of two ter1Δ survivor strains of U. maydis, revealing the deregulation of telomerase-deleted responses (TDR) genes, such as DNA-damage response, stress response, cell cycle, subtelomeric, and proximal telomere genes. Other differentially expressed genes (DEGs) found in the ter1Δ survivor strains were related to pathogenic lifestyle factors, plant-pathogen crosstalk, iron uptake, meiosis, and melanin synthesis. The two ter1Δ survivors were phenotypically comparable, yet DEGs were identified when comparing these strains. Our findings suggest that teliospore formation in U. maydis is controlled by key pathogenic lifestyle and meiosis genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Antonio Sanpedro-Luna
- Posgrado en Microbiología, Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla 72570, Mexico;
| | - Leticia Vega-Alvarado
- Instituto de Ciencias Aplicadas y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico 04510, Mexico;
| | - Candelario Vázquez-Cruz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Microbiológicas, Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla 72570, Mexico;
| | - Patricia Sánchez-Alonso
- Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Microbiológicas, Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla 72570, Mexico;
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4
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Sanpedro-Luna JA, Jacinto-Vázquez JJ, Anastacio-Marcelino E, Posadas-Gutiérrez CM, Olmos-Pineda I, González-Bernal JA, Carcaño-Montiel M, Vega-Alvarado L, Vázquez-Cruz C, Sánchez-Alonso P. Telomerase RNA plays a major role in the completion of the life cycle in Ustilago maydis and shares conserved domains with other Ustilaginales. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281251. [PMID: 36952474 PMCID: PMC10035886 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The RNA subunit of telomerase is an essential component whose primary sequence and length are poorly conserved among eukaryotic organisms. The phytopathogen Ustilago maydis is a dimorphic fungus of the order Ustilaginales. We analyzed several species of Ustilaginales to computationally identify the TElomere RNA (TER) gene ter1. To confirm the identity of the TER gene, we disrupted the gene and characterized telomerase-negative mutants. Similar to catalytic TERT mutants, ter1Δ mutants exhibit phenotypes of growth delay, telomere shortening and low replicative potential. ter1-disrupted mutants were unable to infect maize seedlings in heterozygous crosses and showed defects such as cell cycle arrest and segregation failure. We concluded that ter1, which encodes the TER subunit of the telomerase of U. maydis, have similar and perhaps more extensive functions than trt1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Antonio Sanpedro-Luna
- Instituto de Ciencias, Posgrado en Microbiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México
| | - José Juan Jacinto-Vázquez
- Instituto de Ciencias, Posgrado en Microbiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México
| | - Estela Anastacio-Marcelino
- Instituto de Ciencias, Centro de Investigaciones Microbiológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México
| | | | - Iván Olmos-Pineda
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Computación, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México
| | - Jesús Antonio González-Bernal
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States of America
| | - Moisés Carcaño-Montiel
- Instituto de Ciencias, Centro de Investigaciones Microbiológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México
| | - Leticia Vega-Alvarado
- Instituto de Ciencias Aplicadas y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México, México
| | - Candelario Vázquez-Cruz
- Instituto de Ciencias, Posgrado en Microbiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México
- Instituto de Ciencias, Centro de Investigaciones Microbiológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México
| | - Patricia Sánchez-Alonso
- Instituto de Ciencias, Posgrado en Microbiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México
- Instituto de Ciencias, Centro de Investigaciones Microbiológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México
- * E-mail:
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5
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Hu YX, Jing Q. Zebrafish: a convenient tool for myelopoiesis research. CELL REGENERATION (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 12:2. [PMID: 36595106 PMCID: PMC9810781 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-022-00139-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Myelopoiesis is the process in which the mature myeloid cells, including monocytes/macrophages and granulocytes, are developed. Irregular myelopoiesis may cause and deteriorate a variety of hematopoietic malignancies such as leukemia. Myeloid cells and their precursors are difficult to capture in circulation, let alone observe them in real time. For decades, researchers had to face these difficulties, particularly in in-vivo studies. As a unique animal model, zebrafish possesses numerous advantages like body transparency and convenient genetic manipulation, which is very suitable in myelopoiesis research. Here we review current knowledge on the origin and regulation of myeloid development and how zebrafish models were applied in these studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Xi Hu
- Department of Cardiology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Qing Jing
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue-Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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6
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Smith S, Hoelzl F, Zahn S, Criscuolo F. Telomerase activity in ecological studies: What are its consequences for individual physiology and is there evidence for effects and trade-offs in wild populations. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6239-6251. [PMID: 34664335 PMCID: PMC9788021 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence at the cellular level is helping to provide proximate explanations for the balance between investment in growth, reproduction and somatic maintenance in wild populations. Studies of telomere dynamics have informed researchers about the loss and gain of telomere length both on a seasonal scale and across the lifespan of individuals. In addition, telomere length and telomere rate of loss seems to have evolved differently among taxonomic groups, and relate differently to organismal diversity of lifespan. So far, the mechanisms behind telomere maintenance remain elusive, although many studies have inferred a role for telomerase, an enzyme/RNA complex known to induce telomere elongation from laboratory studies. Exciting further work is also emerging that suggests telomerase (and/or its individual component parts) has a role in fitness that goes beyond the maintenance of telomere length. Here, we review the literature on telomerase biology and examine the evidence from ecological studies for the timing and extent of telomerase activation in relation to life history events associated with telomere maintenance. We suggest that the underlying mechanism is more complicated than originally anticipated, possibly involves several complimentary pathways, and is probably associated with high energetic costs. Potential pathways for future research are numerous and we outline what we see as the most promising prospects to expand our understanding of individual differences in immunity or reproduction efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Smith
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of EthologyUniversity of Veterinary Medicine, ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Franz Hoelzl
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of EthologyUniversity of Veterinary Medicine, ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- Department of Physiology, Evolution and BehaviourInstitut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert CurienCNRSUniversity of StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
| | - François Criscuolo
- Department of Physiology, Evolution and BehaviourInstitut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert CurienCNRSUniversity of StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
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7
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Current Status of Regulatory Non-Coding RNAs Research in the Tritryp. Noncoding RNA 2022; 8:ncrna8040054. [PMID: 35893237 PMCID: PMC9326685 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna8040054] [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: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are protozoan parasites that cause devastating vector-borne human diseases. Gene expression regulation of these organisms depends on post-transcriptional control in responding to diverse environments while going through multiple developmental stages of their complex life cycles. In this scenario, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are excellent candidates for a very efficient, quick, and economic strategy to regulate gene expression. The advent of high throughput RNA sequencing technologies show the presence and deregulation of small RNA fragments derived from canonical ncRNAs. This review seeks to depict the ncRNA landscape in trypanosomatids, focusing on the small RNA fragments derived from functional RNA molecules observed in RNA sequencing studies. Small RNA fragments derived from canonical ncRNAs (tsRNAs, snsRNAs, sdRNAs, and sdrRNAs) were identified in trypanosomatids. Some of these RNAs display changes in their levels associated with different environments and developmental stages, demanding further studies to determine their functional characterization and potential roles. Nevertheless, a comprehensive and detailed ncRNA annotation for most trypanosomatid genomes is still needed, allowing better and more extensive comparative and functional studies.
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8
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Ellis PS, Martins RR, Thompson EJ, Farhat A, Renshaw SA, Henriques CM. A subset of gut leukocytes has telomerase-dependent "hyper-long" telomeres and require telomerase for function in zebrafish. Immun Ageing 2022; 19:31. [PMID: 35820929 PMCID: PMC9277892 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-022-00287-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomerase, the enzyme capable of elongating telomeres, is usually restricted in human somatic cells, which contributes to progressive telomere shortening with cell-division and ageing. T and B-cells cells are somatic cells that can break this rule and can modulate telomerase expression in a homeostatic manner. Whereas it seems intuitive that an immune cell type that depends on regular proliferation outbursts for function may have evolved to modulate telomerase expression it is less obvious why others may also do so, as has been suggested for macrophages and neutrophils in some chronic inflammation disease settings. The gut has been highlighted as a key modulator of systemic ageing and is a key tissue where inflammation must be carefully controlled to prevent dysfunction. How telomerase may play a role in innate immune subtypes in the context of natural ageing in the gut, however, remains to be determined. RESULTS Using the zebrafish model, we show that subsets of gut immune cells have telomerase-dependent"hyper-long" telomeres, which we identified as being predominantly macrophages and dendritics (mpeg1.1+ and cd45+mhcII+). Notably, mpeg1.1+ macrophages have much longer telomeres in the gut than in their haematopoietic tissue of origin, suggesting that there is modulation of telomerase in these cells, in the gut. Moreover, we show that a subset of gut mpeg1.1+ cells express telomerase (tert) in young WT zebrafish, but that the relative proportion of these cells decreases with ageing. Importantly, this is accompanied by telomere shortening and DNA damage responses with ageing and a telomerase-dependent decrease in expression of autophagy and immune activation markers. Finally, these telomerase-dependent molecular alterations are accompanied by impaired phagocytosis of E. coli and increased gut permeability in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that limiting levels of telomerase lead to alterations in gut immunity, impacting on the ability to clear pathogens in vivo. These are accompanied by increased gut permeability, which, together, are likely contributors to local and systemic tissue degeneration and increased susceptibility to infection with ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pam S Ellis
- The Bateson Centre, MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing and Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Healthy Lifespan Institute, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Raquel R Martins
- The Bateson Centre, MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing and Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Healthy Lifespan Institute, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Emily J Thompson
- The Bateson Centre, MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing and Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Healthy Lifespan Institute, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Asma Farhat
- The Bateson Centre, MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing and Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Healthy Lifespan Institute, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Stephen A Renshaw
- The Bateson Centre and Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Catarina M Henriques
- The Bateson Centre, MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research Into Musculoskeletal Ageing and Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Healthy Lifespan Institute, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK.
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9
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Alagpulinsa DA, Toribio MP, Alhallak I, Shmookler Reis RJ. Advances in understanding the molecular basis of clonal hematopoiesis. Trends Mol Med 2022; 28:360-377. [PMID: 35341686 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.03.002] [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: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are polyfunctional, regenerating all blood cells via hematopoiesis throughout life. Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is said to occur when a substantial proportion of mature blood cells is derived from a single dominant HSC lineage, usually because these HSCs have somatic mutations that confer a fitness and expansion advantage. CH strongly associates with aging and enrichment in some diseases irrespective of age, emerging as an independent causal risk factor for hematologic malignancies, cardiovascular disease, adverse disease outcomes, and all-cause mortality. Defining the molecular mechanisms underlying CH will thus provide a framework to develop interventions for healthy aging and disease treatment. Here, we review the most recent advances in understanding the molecular basis of CH in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Alagpulinsa
- Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA.
| | - Mabel P Toribio
- Metabolism Unit, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Iad Alhallak
- Metabolism Unit, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Robert J Shmookler Reis
- Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System and Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
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10
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Multisystemic Manifestations in Rare Diseases: The Experience of Dyskeratosis Congenita. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13030496. [PMID: 35328050 PMCID: PMC8953471 DOI: 10.3390/genes13030496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Dyskeratosis congenital (DC) is the first genetic syndrome described among telomeropathies. Its classical phenotype is characterized by the mucocutaneous triad of reticulated pigmentation of skin lace, nail dystrophy and oral leukoplakia. The clinical presentation, however, is heterogeneous and serious clinical complications include bone marrow failure, hematological and solid tumors. It may also involve immunodeficiencies, dental, pulmonary and liver disorders, and other minor complication. Dyskeratosis congenita shows marked genetic heterogeneity, as at least 14 genes are responsible for the shortening of telomeres characteristic of this disease. This review discusses clinical characteristics, molecular genetics, disease evolution, available therapeutic options and differential diagnosis of dyskeratosis congenita to provide an interdisciplinary and personalized medical assessment that includes family genetic counseling.
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11
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Lee L, Perez Oliva AB, Martinez-Balsalobre E, Churikov D, Peter J, Rahmouni D, Audoly G, Azzoni V, Audebert S, Camoin L, Mulero V, Cayuela ML, Kulathu Y, Geli V, Lachaud C. UFMylation of MRE11 is essential for telomere length maintenance and hematopoietic stem cell survival. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabc7371. [PMID: 34559557 PMCID: PMC8462904 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc7371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ubiquitin-fold modifier 1 (UFM1) is involved in neural and erythroid development, yet its biological roles in these processes are unknown. Here, we generated zebrafish models deficient in Ufm1 and Ufl1 that exhibited telomere shortening associated with developmental delay, impaired hematopoiesis and premature aging. We further report that HeLa cells lacking UFL1 have instability of telomeres replicated by leading-strand synthesis. We uncover that MRE11 UFMylation is necessary for the recruitment of the phosphatase PP1-α leading to dephosphorylation of NBS1. In the absence of UFMylation, NBS1 remains phosphorylated, thereby reducing MRN recruitment to telomeres. The absence of MRN at telomeres favors the formation of the TRF2-Apollo/SNM1 complex consistent with the loss of leading telomeres. These results suggest that MRE11-UFMylation may serve as module to recruit PP1-α. Last, zebrafish expressing Mre11 that cannot be UFMylated phenocopy Ufm1-deficient zebrafish, demonstrating that UFMylation of MRE11 is a previously undescribed evolutionarily conserved mechanisms regulating telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Lee
- Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Ana Belen Perez Oliva
- Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Arrixaca, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Murcia, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Murcia, Spain
| | - Elena Martinez-Balsalobre
- Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Arrixaca, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Murcia, Spain
| | - Dmitri Churikov
- Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Joshua Peter
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Dalicya Rahmouni
- Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Gilles Audoly
- Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Violette Azzoni
- Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Stephane Audebert
- Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Luc Camoin
- Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Victoriano Mulero
- Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Arrixaca, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Murcia, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Murcia, Spain
| | - Maria L. Cayuela
- Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Arrixaca, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras, Murcia, Spain
| | - Yogesh Kulathu
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Vincent Geli
- Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Christophe Lachaud
- Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
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12
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Telomerase RNA recruits RNA polymerase II to target gene promoters to enhance myelopoiesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2015528118. [PMID: 34353901 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2015528118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare inherited bone marrow failure and cancer predisposition syndrome caused by mutations in telomerase or telomeric proteins. Here, we report that zebrafish telomerase RNA (terc) binds to specific DNA sequences of master myeloid genes and controls their expression by recruiting RNA Polymerase II (Pol II). Zebrafish terc harboring the CR4-CR5 domain mutation found in DC patients hardly interacted with Pol II and failed to regulate myeloid gene expression in vivo and to increase their transcription rates in vitro. Similarly, TERC regulated myeloid gene expression and Pol II promoter occupancy in human myeloid progenitor cells. Strikingly, induced pluripotent stem cells derived from DC patients with a TERC mutation in the CR4-CR5 domain showed impaired myelopoiesis, while those with mutated telomerase catalytic subunit differentiated normally. Our findings show that TERC acts as a transcription factor, revealing a target for therapeutic intervention in DC patients.
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13
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Spetale FE, Murillo J, Villanova GV, Bulacio P, Tapia E. FGGA-lnc: automatic gene ontology annotation of lncRNA sequences based on secondary structures. Interface Focus 2021; 11:20200064. [PMID: 34123354 PMCID: PMC8193470 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2020.0064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), greater than 200 nucleotides, is central to understanding the development and progression of many complex diseases. Unlike proteins, the functionality of lncRNAs is only subtly encoded in their primary sequence. Current in-silico lncRNA annotation methods mostly rely on annotations inferred from interaction networks. But extensive experimental studies are required to build these networks. In this work, we present a graph-based machine learning method called FGGA-lnc for the automatic gene ontology (GO) annotation of lncRNAs across the three GO subdomains. We build upon FGGA (factor graph GO annotation), a computational method originally developed to annotate protein sequences from non-model organisms. In the FGGA-lnc version, a coding-based approach is introduced to fuse primary sequence and secondary structure information of lncRNA molecules. As a result, lncRNA sequences become sequences of a higher-order alphabet allowing supervised learning methods to assess individual GO-term annotations. Raw GO annotations obtained in this way are unaware of the GO structure and therefore likely to be inconsistent with it. The message-passing algorithm embodied by factor graph models overcomes this problem. Evaluations of the FGGA-lnc method on lncRNA data, from model and non-model organisms, showed promising results suggesting it as a candidate to satisfy the huge demand for functional annotations arising from high-throughput sequencing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio E. Spetale
- CIFASIS-Conicet-UNR, 27 de Febrero 210 bis, S2000EZP Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Riobamba 245 bis, S2000EZP Rosario, Argentina
| | - Javier Murillo
- CIFASIS-Conicet-UNR, 27 de Febrero 210 bis, S2000EZP Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Riobamba 245 bis, S2000EZP Rosario, Argentina
| | - Gabriela V. Villanova
- Laboratorio Mixto de Biotecnología Acuática (FCByF-UNR), Av. Eduardo Carrasco S/N, S2000EZP Rosario, Argentina
| | - Pilar Bulacio
- CIFASIS-Conicet-UNR, 27 de Febrero 210 bis, S2000EZP Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Riobamba 245 bis, S2000EZP Rosario, Argentina
| | - Elizabeth Tapia
- CIFASIS-Conicet-UNR, 27 de Febrero 210 bis, S2000EZP Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Riobamba 245 bis, S2000EZP Rosario, Argentina
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14
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Human Telomerase RNA: Telomerase Component or More? Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10060873. [PMID: 32517215 PMCID: PMC7355840 DOI: 10.3390/biom10060873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex that maintains the lengths of telomeres. Most studies of telomerase function have focused on the involvement of telomerase activation in the immortalization of cancer cells and cellular rejuvenation. However, some studies demonstrated that the results do not meet expectations for telomerase action in telomere maintenance. Recent results give reason to think that major telomerase components-the reverse transcriptase protein subunit and telomerase RNA-may participate in many cellular processes, including the regulation of apoptosis and autophagy, cell survival, pro-proliferative effects, regulation of gene expression, and protection against oxidative stress. However, the difficulties faced by scientist when researching telomerase component functions often reduce confidence in the minor effects observed in experiments. In this review, we focus on the analysis of the functions of telomerase components (paying more attention to the telomerase RNA component), both as a complex and as independent components, providing effects that are not associated with telomerase activity and telomere length maintenance. Despite the fact that the data on alternative roles of telomerase components look illusory, it would be wrong to completely reject the possibility of their involvement in other biological processes excluded from research/discussion. Investigations to improve the understanding of every aspect of the functioning of telomerase components will provide the basis for a more precise development of approaches to regulate cellular homeostasis, which is important for carcinogenesis and aging.
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15
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Ségal-Bendirdjian E, Geli V. Non-canonical Roles of Telomerase: Unraveling the Imbroglio. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:332. [PMID: 31911897 PMCID: PMC6914764 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase plays a critical role in stem cell function and tissue regeneration that depends on its ability to elongate telomeres. For nearly two decades, it turned out that TERT regulates a broad spectrum of functions including signal transduction, gene expression regulation, and protection against oxidative damage that are independent of its telomere elongation activity. These conclusions that were mainly obtained in cell lines overexpressing telomerase were further strengthened by in vivo models of ectopic expression of telomerase or models of G1 TERT knockout mice without detectable telomere dysfunction. However, the later models were questioned due to the presence of aberrantly shortened telomere in the germline of the parents TERT+/- that were used to create the G1 TERT -/- mice. The physiological relevance of the functions associated with overexpressed telomerase raised also some concerns due to artifactual situations and localizations and complications to quantify the level of TERT. Another concern with non-canonical functions of TERT was the difficulty to separate a direct TERT-related function from secondary effects. Despite these concerns, more and more evidence accumulates for non-canonical roles of telomerase that are non-obligatory extra-telomeric. Here, we review these non-canonical roles of the TERT subunit of telomerase. Also, we emphasize recent results that link TERT to mitochondria and protection to reactive oxygen species suggesting a protective role of TERT in neurons. Throughout this review, we dissect some controversies regarding the non-canonical functions of telomerase and provide some insights to explain these discrepancies. Finally, we discuss the importance of understanding these alternative functions of telomerase for the development of anticancer strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyne Ségal-Bendirdjian
- INSERM UMR-S 1124, Team: Cellular Homeostasis, Cancer and Therapies, INSERM US36, CNRS UMS 2009, BioMedTech Facilities, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Geli
- Marseille Cancer Research Center, U1068 INSERM, UMR 7258 CNRS, Aix Marseille University, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Equipe labellisée Ligue, Marseille, France
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16
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Cayuela ML, Claes KBM, Ferreira MG, Henriques CM, van Eeden F, Varga M, Vierstraete J, Mione MC. The Zebrafish as an Emerging Model to Study DNA Damage in Aging, Cancer and Other Diseases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 6:178. [PMID: 30687705 PMCID: PMC6335974 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2018.00178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a disease of the elderly, and old age is its largest risk factor. With age, DNA damage accumulates continuously, increasing the chance of malignant transformation. The zebrafish has emerged as an important vertebrate model to study these processes. Key mechanisms such as DNA damage responses and cellular senescence can be studied in zebrafish throughout its life course. In addition, the zebrafish is becoming an important resource to study telomere biology in aging, regeneration and cancer. Here we review some of the tools and resources that zebrafish researchers have developed and discuss their potential use in the study of DNA damage, cancer and aging related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Cayuela
- Telomerase, Cancer and Aging Group, Surgery Unit, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | | | | | - Catarina Martins Henriques
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | | | - Máté Varga
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-SE Lendület Nephrogenetic Laboratory, Budapest, Hungary
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17
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The Ribosome as a Missing Link in Prebiotic Evolution III: Over-Representation of tRNA- and rRNA-Like Sequences and Plieofunctionality of Ribosome-Related Molecules Argues for the Evolution of Primitive Genomes from Ribosomal RNA Modules. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20010140. [PMID: 30609737 PMCID: PMC6337102 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20010140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose that ribosomal RNA (rRNA) formed the basis of the first cellular genomes, and provide evidence from a review of relevant literature and proteonomic tests. We have proposed previously that the ribosome may represent the vestige of the first self-replicating entity in which rRNAs also functioned as genes that were transcribed into functional messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding ribosomal proteins. rRNAs also encoded polymerases to replicate itself and a full complement of the transfer RNAs (tRNAs) required to translate its genes. We explore here a further prediction of our “ribosome-first” theory: the ribosomal genome provided the basis for the first cellular genomes. Modern genomes should therefore contain an unexpectedly large percentage of tRNA- and rRNA-like modules derived from both sense and antisense reading frames, and these should encode non-ribosomal proteins, as well as ribosomal ones with key cell functions. Ribosomal proteins should also have been co-opted by cellular evolution to play extra-ribosomal functions. We review existing literature supporting these predictions. We provide additional, new data demonstrating that rRNA-like sequences occur at significantly higher frequencies than predicted on the basis of mRNA duplications or randomized RNA sequences. These data support our “ribosome-first” theory of cellular evolution.
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18
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Romaniuk A, Paszel-Jaworska A, Totoń E, Lisiak N, Hołysz H, Królak A, Grodecka-Gazdecka S, Rubiś B. The non-canonical functions of telomerase: to turn off or not to turn off. Mol Biol Rep 2018; 46:1401-1411. [PMID: 30448892 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-018-4496-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Telomerase is perceived as an immortality enzyme that enables passing the Hayflick limit. Its main function is telomere restoration but only in a limited group of cells, including cancer cells. Since it is found in a vast majority of cancer cells, it became a natural target for cancer therapy. However, it has much more functions than just altering the metabolism of telomeres-it also reveals numerous so-called non-canonical functions. Thus, a question arises whether it is always beneficial to turn it off when planning a cancer strategy and considering potential side effects? The purpose of this review is to discuss some of the recent discoveries about telomere-independent functions of telomerase in the context of cancer therapy and potential side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Romaniuk
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego St., 60-355, Poznań, Poland
| | - Anna Paszel-Jaworska
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego St., 60-355, Poznań, Poland
| | - Ewa Totoń
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego St., 60-355, Poznań, Poland
| | - Natalia Lisiak
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego St., 60-355, Poznań, Poland
| | - Hanna Hołysz
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego St., 60-355, Poznań, Poland
| | - Anna Królak
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego St., 60-355, Poznań, Poland
| | | | - Błażej Rubiś
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 49 Przybyszewskiego St., 60-355, Poznań, Poland.
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19
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Jose SS, Tidu F, Burilova P, Kepak T, Bendickova K, Fric J. The Telomerase Complex Directly Controls Hematopoietic Stem Cell Differentiation and Senescence in an Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Model of Telomeropathy. Front Genet 2018; 9:345. [PMID: 30210531 PMCID: PMC6123533 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeropathies are rare disorders associated with impaired telomere length control mechanisms that frequently result from genetic mutations in the telomerase complex. Dyskeratosis congenita is a congenital progressive telomeropathy in which mutation in the telomerase RNA component (TERC) impairs telomere maintenance leading to accelerated cellular senescence and clinical outcomes resembling premature aging. The most severe clinical feature is perturbed hematopoiesis and bone-marrow failure, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we developed a model of telomerase function imbalance using shRNA to knockdown TERC expression in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We then promoted in vitro hematopoiesis in these cells to analyze the effects of TERC impairment. Reduced TERC expression impaired hematopoietic stem-cell (HSC) differentiation and increased the expression of cellular senescence markers and production of reactive oxygen species. Interestingly, telomere length was unaffected in shTERC knockdown iPSCs, leading to conclusion that the phenotype is controlled by non-telomeric functions of telomerase. We then assessed the effects of TERC-depletion in THP-1 myeloid cells and again observed reduced hematopoietic and myelopoietic differentiative potential. However, these cells exhibited impaired telomerase activity as verified by accelerated telomere shortening. shTERC-depleted iPSC-derived and THP-1-derived myeloid precursors had lower phagocytic capacity and increased ROS production, indicative of senescence. These findings were confirmed using a BIBR1532 TERT inhibitor, suggesting that these phenotypes are dependent on telomerase function but not directly linked to telomere length. These data provide a better understanding of the molecular processes driving the clinical signs of telomeropathies and identify novel roles of the telomerase complex other than regulating telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Sushama Jose
- Cellular and Molecular Immunoregulation Group, Center for Translational Medicine, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Federico Tidu
- Cellular and Molecular Immunoregulation Group, Center for Translational Medicine, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Petra Burilova
- Cellular and Molecular Immunoregulation Group, Center for Translational Medicine, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Tomas Kepak
- Pediatric Oncology Translational Research, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, The University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Kamila Bendickova
- Cellular and Molecular Immunoregulation Group, Center for Translational Medicine, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Fric
- Cellular and Molecular Immunoregulation Group, Center for Translational Medicine, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
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20
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Terc is dispensable for most of the short-term HPV16 oncogene-mediated phenotypes in mice. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196604. [PMID: 29698462 PMCID: PMC5919663 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been shown in vitro to impinge on telomere homeostasis in a number of ways. However, the in vivo interaction of viruses with the telomere homeostasis apparatus has not been previously explored. Since E6 and E7 are the main viral oncogenes and key for viral replication, we have explored here the short-term phenotypes of the genes in the context of defective telomere homeostasis. We examined the short-term phenotypes of E6 and E7 in a context where the Terc component of the telomerase holoenzyme was knocked out. We determined that Terc was dispensable for most oncogene-mediated phenotypes. Surprisingly, E7-mediated reduction of label retaining cells was found to be in part dependent on the presence of Terc. Under the conditions examined here, there appears to be no compelling evidence Terc is required for most short-term viral oncogene mediated phenotypes. Further studies will elucidate its role in longer-term phenotypes.
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21
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Carneiro MC, de Castro IP, Ferreira MG. Telomeres in aging and disease: lessons from zebrafish. Dis Model Mech 2017; 9:737-48. [PMID: 27482813 PMCID: PMC4958310 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.025130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Age is the highest risk factor for some of the most prevalent human diseases, including cancer. Telomere shortening is thought to play a central role in the aging process in humans. The link between telomeres and aging is highlighted by the fact that genetic diseases causing telomerase deficiency are associated with premature aging and increased risk of cancer. For the last two decades, this link has been mostly investigated using mice that have long telomeres. However, zebrafish has recently emerged as a powerful and complementary model system to study telomere biology. Zebrafish possess human-like short telomeres that progressively decline with age, reaching lengths in old age that are observed when telomerase is mutated. The extensive characterization of its well-conserved molecular and cellular physiology makes this vertebrate an excellent model to unravel the underlying relationship between telomere shortening, tissue regeneration, aging and disease. In this Review, we explore the advantages of using zebrafish in telomere research and discuss the primary discoveries made in this model that have contributed to expanding our knowledge of how telomere attrition contributes to cellular senescence, organ dysfunction and disease. Summary: In this Review, the authors explore the advantages of using zebrafish in telomere research and discuss the primary discoveries made in this model that have contributed to expanding our knowledge of how telomere attrition contributes to cellular senescence, organ dysfunction and disease.
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22
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Xu Y, Goldkorn A. Telomere and Telomerase Therapeutics in Cancer. Genes (Basel) 2016; 7:genes7060022. [PMID: 27240403 PMCID: PMC4929421 DOI: 10.3390/genes7060022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Revised: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase capable of utilizing an integrated RNA component as a template to add protective tandem telomeric single strand DNA repeats, TTAGGG, to the ends of chromosomes. Telomere dysfunction and telomerase reactivation are observed in approximately 90% of human cancers; hence, telomerase activation plays a unique role as a nearly universal step on the path to malignancy. In the past two decades, multiple telomerase targeting therapeutic strategies have been pursued, including direct telomerase inhibition, telomerase interference, hTERT or hTERC promoter driven therapy, telomere-based approaches, and telomerase vaccines. Many of these strategies have entered clinical development, and some have now advanced to phase III clinical trials. In the coming years, one or more of these new telomerase-targeting drugs may be expected to enter the pharmacopeia of standard care. Here, we briefly review the molecular functions of telomerase in cancer and provide an update about the preclinical and clinical development of telomerase targeting therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucheng Xu
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
| | - Amir Goldkorn
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
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23
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Short Telomeres in Key Tissues Initiate Local and Systemic Aging in Zebrafish. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1005798. [PMID: 26789415 PMCID: PMC4720274 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres shorten with each cell division and telomere dysfunction is a recognized hallmark of aging. Tissue proliferation is expected to dictate the rate at which telomeres shorten. We set out to test whether proliferative tissues age faster than non-proliferative due to telomere shortening during zebrafish aging. We performed a prospective study linking telomere length to tissue pathology and disease. Contrary to expectations, we show that telomeres shorten to critical lengths only in specific tissues and independently of their proliferation rate. Short telomeres accumulate in the gut but not in other highly proliferative tissues such as the blood and gonads. Notably, the muscle, a low proliferative tissue, accumulates short telomeres and DNA damage at the same rate as the gut. Together, our work shows that telomere shortening and DNA damage in key tissues triggers not only local dysfunction but also anticipates the onset of age-associated diseases in other tissues, including cancer. Why, and how, organisms age and ultimately die is a key question of modern biology. Telomeres are considered molecular timekeepers determining cellular lifespans. Within an organism, tissue proliferation is expected to dictate the rate at which telomeres shorten. Using zebrafish, an organism with human-like telomeres, we set out to test whether, in natural aging, proliferative tissues age faster than non-proliferative in a telomere-dependent manner. We found that telomeres shorten with age to a level where they trigger telomere associated DNA damage and culminate in tissue dysfunction, independently of high or low tissue proliferation rates. Specifically, short telomeres accumulate in the gut, a highly proliferative tissue, and in the muscle, a low proliferative tissue, working as direct predictors of cellular damage prior to onset of intestinal inflammation and myocyte degeneration. Based on our data, we propose a model where telomere shortening in these key tissues is sufficient to trigger damage in others and precedes the onset of organism age-associated diseases, namely cancer. Thus, tissue-specific telomere length is limiting for local and systemic physiological integrity, leading to tissue degeneration and disease in aging.
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24
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Galindo-Villegas J, Montalban-Arques A, Liarte S, de Oliveira S, Pardo-Pastor C, Rubio-Moscardo F, Meseguer J, Valverde MA, Mulero V. TRPV4-Mediated Detection of Hyposmotic Stress by Skin Keratinocytes Activates Developmental Immunity. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 196:738-49. [PMID: 26673139 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1501729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
As an organism is exposed to pathogens during very early development, specific defense mechanisms must take effect. In this study, we used a germ-free zebrafish embryo model to show that osmotic stress regulates the activation of immunity and host protection in newly hatched embryos. Mechanistically, skin keratinocytes were responsible for both sensing the hyposmolarity of the aquatic environment and mediating immune effector mechanisms. This occurred through a transient potential receptor vanilloid 4/Ca(2+)/TGF-β-activated kinase 1/NF-κB signaling pathway. Surprisingly, the genes encoding antimicrobial effectors, which do not have the potential to cause tissue damage, are constitutively expressed during development, independently of both commensal microbes and osmotic stress. Our results reveal that osmotic stress is associated with the induction of developmental immunity in the absence of tissue damage and point out to the embryo skin as the first organ with full capacities to mount an innate immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Galindo-Villegas
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Murcia-Arrixaca, Espinardo Campus, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; and
| | - Ana Montalban-Arques
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Murcia-Arrixaca, Espinardo Campus, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; and
| | - Sergio Liarte
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Murcia-Arrixaca, Espinardo Campus, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; and
| | - Sofia de Oliveira
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Murcia-Arrixaca, Espinardo Campus, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; and
| | - Carlos Pardo-Pastor
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology and Channelopathies, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fanny Rubio-Moscardo
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology and Channelopathies, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Meseguer
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Murcia-Arrixaca, Espinardo Campus, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; and
| | - Miguel A Valverde
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology and Channelopathies, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victoriano Mulero
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Murcia-Arrixaca, Espinardo Campus, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; and
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25
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Functions of idh1 and its mutation in the regulation of developmental hematopoiesis in zebrafish. Blood 2015; 125:2974-84. [DOI: 10.1182/blood-2014-09-601187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Key Points
Zebrafish idh1 plays an important role in the regulation of myelopoiesis and definitive hematopoiesis. Expression of human IDH1-R132H and its zebrafish orthologue induced an increase in myelopoiesis and 2-hydroxyglutrate.
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26
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Gazzaniga FS, Blackburn EH. An antiapoptotic role for telomerase RNA in human immune cells independent of telomere integrity or telomerase enzymatic activity. Blood 2014; 124:3675-84. [PMID: 25320237 PMCID: PMC4263978 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2014-06-582254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Accepted: 09/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein complex that adds telomeric DNA to the ends of linear chromosomes. It contains two core canonical components: the essential RNA component, hTR, which provides the template for DNA synthesis, and the reverse transcriptase protein component, hTERT. Low telomerase activity in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells has been associated with a variety of diseases. It is unknown, however, whether telomerase, in addition to its long-term requirement for telomere maintenance, is also necessary for short-term immune cell proliferation and survival. We report that overexpression of enzymatically inactive hTR mutants protected against dexamethasone-induced apoptosis in stimulated CD4 T cells. Furthermore, hTR knockdown reproducibly induced apoptosis in the absence of any detectable telomere shortening or DNA damage response. In contrast, hTERT knockdown did not induce apoptosis. Strikingly, overexpression of hTERT protein caused apoptosis that was rescued by overexpression of enzymatically inactive hTR mutants. Hence, we propose that hTR can function as a noncoding RNA that protects from apoptosis independent of its function in telomerase enzymatic activity and long-term telomere maintenance in normal human immune cells. These results imply that genetic or environmental factors that alter hTR levels can directly affect immune cell function to influence health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca S Gazzaniga
- Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Elizabeth H Blackburn
- Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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Keightley MC, Wang CH, Pazhakh V, Lieschke GJ. Delineating the roles of neutrophils and macrophages in zebrafish regeneration models. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2014; 56:92-106. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2014.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2014] [Revised: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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28
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Fernández García MS, Teruya-Feldstein J. The diagnosis and treatment of dyskeratosis congenita: a review. J Blood Med 2014; 5:157-67. [PMID: 25170286 PMCID: PMC4145822 DOI: 10.2147/jbm.s47437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is an inherited bone marrow failure (BMF) syndrome characterized by the classic triad of abnormal skin pigmentation, nail dystrophy, and oral leukoplakia. However, patients usually develop BMF and are predisposed to cancer, with increased risk for squamous cell carcinoma and hematolymphoid neoplasms. DC is a disease of defective telomere maintenance and is heterogeneous at the genetic level. It can be inherited in X-linked, autosomal dominant, or autosomal recessive patterns. Mutations in at least ten telomere- and telomerase-associated genes have been described in DC. There are no targeted therapies for DC and patients usually die of BMF due to a deficient renewing capability of hematopoietic stem cells. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only curative treatment for BMF.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Soledad Fernández García
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA ; Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
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