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Ferreira JJ, Kent LN, McCarthy R, Butler A, Ma X, Peramsetty N, Amazu C, Zhang A, Whitter GC, England SK, Santi CM. SLO2.1/NALCN Functional Complex Activity in Mouse Myometrial Smooth Muscle Cells During Pregnancy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596465. [PMID: 38853884 PMCID: PMC11160795 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
At the end of pregnancy, the uterus transitions from a quiescent to a highly contractile state. This is partly due to depolarization of the resting membrane potential in uterine (myometrial) smooth muscle cells (MSMCs). Experiments with human MSMCs showed that the membrane potential is regulated by a functional complex between the sodium (Na+)-activated potassium (K+) channel SLO2.1 and the Na+ Leak Channel Non-Selective (NALCN). In human MSMCs, Na+ entering through NALCN activates SLO2.1, leading to K+ efflux, membrane hyperpolarization (cells become more negative inside), and reduced contractility. Decreased SLO2.1/NALCN activity results in reduced K+ efflux, leading to membrane depolarization, Ca2+ influx via voltage-dependent calcium channels, and increased MSMC contractility. However, all of these experiments were performed with MSMCs isolated from women at term, so the role of the SLO2.1/NALCN complex early in pregnancy was speculative. To address this question here, we examined the role of the SLO2.1/NALCN complex in regulating mouse MSMC membrane potential across pregnancy. We report that Slo2.1 and Nalcn expression change along pregnancy, being more highly expressed in MSMCs from non-pregnant and early pregnant mice than in those from late-pregnant mice. Functional studies revealed that SLO2.1 channels mediate a significant portion of the K+ current in mouse MSMCs, particularly in cells from non-pregnant and early pregnant mice. Activation of SLO2.1 by Na+ influx through NALCN led to membrane hyperpolarization in MSMCs from early pregnancy but not in MSMCs from later pregnancy. Moreover, we found that the NALCN/SLO2.1 complex regulates intracellular Ca2+ responses more in MSMCs from non-pregnant and early pregnancy mice than in MSMCs from late pregnancy. Together, these findings reveal that the SLO2.1/NALCN functional complex is conserved between mouse and humans and functions throughout pregnancy. This work could open avenues for targeted pharmacological interventions in pregnancy-related complications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ronald McCarthy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, 425 S. Euclid Avenue, CB 8064, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Alice Butler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, 425 S. Euclid Avenue, CB 8064, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, 425 S. Euclid Avenue, CB 8064, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Nikita Peramsetty
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, 425 S. Euclid Avenue, CB 8064, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Chinwendu Amazu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, 425 S. Euclid Avenue, CB 8064, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Alexander Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, 425 S. Euclid Avenue, CB 8064, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Grace C. Whitter
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, 425 S. Euclid Avenue, CB 8064, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Sarah K. England
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, 425 S. Euclid Avenue, CB 8064, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Celia M. Santi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, 425 S. Euclid Avenue, CB 8064, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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2
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Schott K, Usher SG, Serra O, Carnevale V, Pless SA, Chua HC. Unplugging lateral fenestrations of NALCN reveals a hidden drug binding site within the pore region. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2401591121. [PMID: 38787877 PMCID: PMC11145269 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2401591121] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The sodium (Na+) leak channel (NALCN) is a member of the four-domain voltage-gated cation channel family that includes the prototypical voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels (NaVs and CaVs, respectively). Unlike NaVs and CaVs, which have four lateral fenestrations that serve as routes for lipophilic compounds to enter the central cavity to modulate channel function, NALCN has bulky residues (W311, L588, M1145, and Y1436) that block these openings. Structural data suggest that occluded fenestrations underlie the pharmacological resistance of NALCN, but functional evidence is lacking. To test this hypothesis, we unplugged the fenestrations of NALCN by substituting the four aforementioned residues with alanine (AAAA) and compared the effects of NaV, CaV, and NALCN blockers on both wild-type (WT) and AAAA channels. Most compounds behaved in a similar manner on both channels, but phenytoin and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) elicited additional, distinct responses on AAAA channels. Further experiments using single alanine mutants revealed that phenytoin and 2-APB enter the inner cavity through distinct fenestrations, implying structural specificity to their modes of access. Using a combination of computational and functional approaches, we identified amino acid residues critical for 2-APB activity, supporting the existence of drug binding site(s) within the pore region. Intrigued by the activity of 2-APB and its analogues, we tested compounds containing the diphenylmethane/amine moiety on WT channels. We identified clinically used drugs that exhibited diverse activity, thus expanding the pharmacological toolbox for NALCN. While the low potencies of active compounds reiterate the pharmacological resistance of NALCN, our findings lay the foundation for rational drug design to develop NALCN modulators with refined properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Schott
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
| | - Samuel George Usher
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
| | - Oscar Serra
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA19122
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA19122
- Institute of Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA19122
| | - Vincenzo Carnevale
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA19122
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA19122
- Institute of Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA19122
| | - Stephan Alexander Pless
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
| | - Han Chow Chua
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
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3
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Lynch SM, Heeran AB, Burke C, Lynam-Lennon N, Eustace AJ, Dean K, Robson T, Rahman A, Marcone S. Precision Oncology, Artificial Intelligence, and Novel Therapeutic Advancements in the Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Cancer: Highlights from the 59th Irish Association for Cancer Research (IACR) Annual Conference. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1989. [PMID: 38893110 PMCID: PMC11171401 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16111989] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Advancements in oncology, especially with the era of precision oncology, is resulting in a paradigm shift in cancer care. Indeed, innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are paving the way towards enhanced diagnosis, prevention, and personalised treatments as well as novel drug discoveries. Despite excellent progress, the emergence of resistant cancers has curtailed both the pace and extent to which we can advance. By combining both their understanding of the fundamental biological mechanisms and technological advancements such as artificial intelligence and data science, cancer researchers are now beginning to address this. Together, this will revolutionise cancer care, by enhancing molecular interventions that may aid cancer prevention, inform clinical decision making, and accelerate the development of novel therapeutic drugs. Here, we will discuss the advances and approaches in both artificial intelligence and precision oncology, presented at the 59th Irish Association for Cancer Research annual conference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seodhna M. Lynch
- Personalised Medicine Centre, School of Medicine, Ulster University, C-TRIC Building, Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Glenshane Road, Londonderry BT47 6SB, UK;
| | - Aisling B. Heeran
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland; (A.B.H.); (N.L.-L.); (S.M.)
| | - Caoimbhe Burke
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 C1P1 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Niamh Lynam-Lennon
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland; (A.B.H.); (N.L.-L.); (S.M.)
| | - Alex J. Eustace
- Life Sciences Institute, Dublin City University, D09 NR58 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Kellie Dean
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, T12 XF62 Cork, Ireland;
| | - Tracy Robson
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Arman Rahman
- UCD School of Medicine, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 C1P1 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Simone Marcone
- Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland; (A.B.H.); (N.L.-L.); (S.M.)
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Zhang G, Sun Y, Guan M, Liu M, Sun S. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomic investigation reveals the spatiotemporal specificity of the beta-defensin gene family during mouse sperm maturation. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:267. [PMID: 38745232 PMCID: PMC11092205 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01637-3] [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: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Low sperm motility is a significant contributor to male infertility. beta-defensins have been implicated in host defence and the acquisition of sperm motility; however, the regulatory mechanisms governing their gene expression patterns and functions remain poorly understood. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA and spatial transcriptome sequencing to investigate the cellular composition of testicular and epididymal tissues and examined their gene expression characteristics. In the epididymis, we found that epididymal epithelial cells display a region specificity of gene expression in different epididymal segments, including the beta-defensin family genes. In particular, Defb15, Defb18, Defb20, Defb25 and Defb48 are specific to the caput; Defb22, Defb23 and Defb26 to the corpus; Defb2 and Defb9 to the cauda of the epididymis. To confirm this, we performed mRNA fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) targeting certain exon region of beta-defensin genes, and found some of their expression matched the sequencing results and displayed a close connection with epididimosome marker gene Cd63. In addition, we paid attention to the Sertoli cells and Leydig cells in the testis, along with fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells in the epididymis, by demonstrating their gene expression profile and spatial information. Our study provides a single-cell and spatial landscape for analysing the gene expression characteristics of testicular and epididymal environments and has important implications for the study of spermatogenesis and sperm maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuanchao Sun
- Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Minkai Guan
- Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | | | - Shiduo Sun
- Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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5
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Karras P, Black JRM, McGranahan N, Marine JC. Decoding the interplay between genetic and non-genetic drivers of metastasis. Nature 2024; 629:543-554. [PMID: 38750233 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07302-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Metastasis is a multistep process by which cancer cells break away from their original location and spread to distant organs, and is responsible for the vast majority of cancer-related deaths. Preventing early metastatic dissemination would revolutionize the ability to fight cancer. Unfortunately, the relatively poor understanding of the molecular underpinnings of metastasis has hampered the development of effective anti-metastatic drugs. Although it is now accepted that disseminating tumour cells need to acquire multiple competencies to face the many obstacles they encounter before reaching their metastatic site(s), whether these competencies are acquired through an accumulation of metastasis-specific genetic alterations and/or non-genetic events is often debated. Here we review a growing body of literature highlighting the importance of both genetic and non-genetic reprogramming events during the metastatic cascade, and discuss how genetic and non-genetic processes act in concert to confer metastatic competencies. We also describe how recent technological advances, and in particular the advent of single-cell multi-omics and barcoding approaches, will help to better elucidate the cross-talk between genetic and non-genetic mechanisms of metastasis and ultimately inform innovative paths for the early detection and interception of this lethal process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Karras
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - James R M Black
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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6
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Yuan S, Almagro J, Fuchs E. Beyond genetics: driving cancer with the tumour microenvironment behind the wheel. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:274-286. [PMID: 38347101 PMCID: PMC11077468 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00660-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Cancer has long been viewed as a genetic disease of cumulative mutations. This notion is fuelled by studies showing that ageing tissues are often riddled with clones of complex oncogenic backgrounds coexisting in seeming harmony with their normal tissue counterparts. Equally puzzling, however, is how cancer cells harbouring high mutational burden contribute to normal, tumour-free mice when allowed to develop within the confines of healthy embryos. Conversely, recent evidence suggests that adult tissue cells expressing only one or a few oncogenes can, in some contexts, generate tumours exhibiting many of the features of a malignant, invasive cancer. These disparate observations are difficult to reconcile without invoking environmental cues triggering epigenetic changes that can either dampen or drive malignant transformation. In this Review, we focus on how certain oncogenes can launch a two-way dialogue of miscommunication between a stem cell and its environment that can rewire downstream events non-genetically and skew the morphogenetic course of the tissue. We review the cells and molecules of and the physical forces acting in the resulting tumour microenvironments that can profoundly affect the behaviours of transformed cells. Finally, we discuss possible explanations for the remarkable diversity in the relative importance of mutational burden versus tumour microenvironment and its clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaopeng Yuan
- Robin Chemers Neustein Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jorge Almagro
- Robin Chemers Neustein Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elaine Fuchs
- Robin Chemers Neustein Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, NY, USA.
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7
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Lloyd EG, Henríquez JA, Biffi G. Modelling the micro- and macro- environment of pancreatic cancer: from patients to pre-clinical models and back. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050624. [PMID: 38639944 PMCID: PMC11051978 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050624] [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: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy with very low survival rates. Over the past 50 years, improvements in PDAC survival have significantly lagged behind the progress made in other cancers. PDAC's dismal prognosis is due to typical late-stage diagnosis combined with lack of effective treatments and complex mechanisms of disease. We propose that improvements in survival are partly hindered by the current focus on largely modelling and targeting PDAC as one disease, despite it being heterogeneous. Implementing new disease-representative pre-clinical mouse models that capture this complexity could enable the development of transformative therapies. Specifically, these models should recapitulate human PDAC late-stage biology, heterogeneous genetics, extensive non-malignant stroma, and associated risk factors and comorbidities. In this Perspective, we focus on how pre-clinical mouse models could be improved to exemplify key features of PDAC micro- and macro- environments, which would drive clinically relevant patient stratification, tailored treatments and improved survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise G. Lloyd
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Joaquín Araos Henríquez
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Giulia Biffi
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
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8
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Rodriguez-Tirado C, Sosa MS. How much do we know about the metastatic process? Clin Exp Metastasis 2024:10.1007/s10585-023-10248-0. [PMID: 38520475 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-023-10248-0] [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: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells can leave their primary sites and travel through the circulation to distant sites, where they lodge as disseminated cancer cells (DCCs), even during the early and asymptomatic stages of tumor progression. In experimental models and clinical samples, DCCs can be detected in a non-proliferative state, defined as cellular dormancy. This state can persist for extended periods until DCCs reawaken, usually in response to niche-derived reactivation signals. Therefore, their clinical detection in sites like lymph nodes and bone marrow is linked to poor survival. Current cancer therapy designs are based on the biology of the primary tumor and do not target the biology of the dormant DCC population and thus fail to eradicate the initial or subsequent waves of metastasis. In this brief review, we discuss the current methods for detecting DCCs and highlight new strategies that aim to target DCCs that constitute minimal residual disease to reduce or prevent metastasis formation. Furthermore, we present current evidence on the relevance of DCCs derived from early stages of tumor progression in metastatic disease and describe the animal models available for their study. We also discuss our current understanding of the dissemination mechanisms utilized by genetically less- and more-advanced cancer cells, which include the functional analysis of intermediate or hybrid states of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Finally, we raise some intriguing questions regarding the clinical impact of studying the crosstalk between evolutionary waves of DCCs and the initiation of metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Rodriguez-Tirado
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Department of Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute/Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
| | - Maria Soledad Sosa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Department of Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute/Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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9
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De Fazio E, Pittarello M, Gans A, Ghosh B, Slika H, Alimonti P, Tyler B. Intrinsic and Microenvironmental Drivers of Glioblastoma Invasion. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2563. [PMID: 38473812 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052563] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are diffusely infiltrating brain tumors whose prognosis is strongly influenced by their extent of invasion into the surrounding brain tissue. While lower-grade gliomas present more circumscribed borders, high-grade gliomas are aggressive tumors with widespread brain infiltration and dissemination. Glioblastoma (GBM) is known for its high invasiveness and association with poor prognosis. Its low survival rate is due to the certainty of its recurrence, caused by microscopic brain infiltration which makes surgical eradication unattainable. New insights into GBM biology at the single-cell level have enabled the identification of mechanisms exploited by glioma cells for brain invasion. In this review, we explore the current understanding of several molecular pathways and mechanisms used by tumor cells to invade normal brain tissue. We address the intrinsic biological drivers of tumor cell invasion, by tackling how tumor cells interact with each other and with the tumor microenvironment (TME). We focus on the recently discovered neuronal niche in the TME, including local as well as distant neurons, contributing to glioma growth and invasion. We then address the mechanisms of invasion promoted by astrocytes and immune cells. Finally, we review the current literature on the therapeutic targeting of the molecular mechanisms of invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emerson De Fazio
- Department of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University School of Medicine, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Matilde Pittarello
- Department of Medicine, Humanitas University School of Medicine, 20089 Rozzano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gans
- Department of Neurology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Bikona Ghosh
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Hasan Slika
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Paolo Alimonti
- Department of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University School of Medicine, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Betty Tyler
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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Türk L, Filippov I, Arnold C, Zaugg J, Tserel L, Kisand K, Peterson P. Cytotoxic CD8 + Temra cells show loss of chromatin accessibility at genes associated with T cell activation. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1285798. [PMID: 38370415 PMCID: PMC10870784 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1285798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
As humans age, their memory T cell compartment expands due to the lifelong exposure to antigens. This expansion is characterized by terminally differentiated CD8+ T cells (Temra), which possess NK cell-like phenotype and are associated with chronic inflammatory conditions. Temra cells are predominantly driven by the sporadic reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV), yet their epigenomic patterns and cellular heterogeneity remain understudied. To address this gap, we correlated their gene expression profiles with chromatin openness and conducted single-cell transcriptome analysis, comparing them to other CD8+ subsets and CMV-responses. We confirmed that Temra cells exhibit high expression of genes associated with cytotoxicity and lower expression of costimulatory and chemokine genes. The data revealed that CMV-responsive CD8+ T cells (Tcmv) were predominantly derived from a mixed population of Temra and memory cells (Tcm/em) and shared their transcriptomic profiles. Using ATAC-seq analysis, we identified 1449 differentially accessible chromatin regions between CD8+ Temra and Tcm/em cells, of which only 127 sites gained chromatin accessibility in Temra cells. We further identified 51 gene loci, including costimulatory CD27, CD28, and ICOS genes, whose chromatin accessibility correlated with their gene expression. The differential chromatin regions Tcm/em cells were enriched in motifs that bind multiple transcriptional activators, such as Jun/Fos, NFkappaB, and STAT, whereas the open regions in Temra cells mainly contained binding sites of T-box transcription factors. Our single-cell analysis of CD8+CCR7loCD45RAhi sorted Temra population showed several subsets of Temra and NKT-like cells and CMC1+ Temra populations in older individuals that were shifted towards decreased cytotoxicity. Among CD8+CCR7loCD45RAhi sorted cells, we found a decreased proportion of IL7R+ Tcm/em-like and MAIT cells in individuals with high levels of CMV antibodies (CMVhi). These results shed new light on the molecular and cellular heterogeneity of CD8+ Temra cells and their relationship to aging and CMV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lehte Türk
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Igor Filippov
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Qiagen Aarhus A/S, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Christian Arnold
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Judith Zaugg
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Structural and Computational Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Liina Tserel
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kai Kisand
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Pärt Peterson
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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11
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Schott K, Usher SG, Serra O, Carnevale V, Pless SA, Chua HC. Unplugging lateral fenestrations of NALCN reveals a hidden drug binding site within the pore module. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.04.12.536537. [PMID: 38328210 PMCID: PMC10849497 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.12.536537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The sodium (Na + ) leak channel (NALCN) is a member of the four-domain voltage-gated cation channel family that includes the prototypical voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels (Na V s and Ca V s, respectively). Unlike Na V s and Ca V s, which have four lateral fenestrations that serve as routes for lipophilic compounds to enter the central cavity to modulate channel function, NALCN has bulky residues (W311, L588, M1145 and Y1436) that block these openings. Structural data suggest that oc-cluded lateral fenestrations underlie the pharmacological resistance of NALCN to lipophilic compounds, but functional evidence is lacking. To test this hypothesis, we unplugged the fenestrations of NALCN by substituting the four aforementioned resi-dues with alanine (AAAA) and compared the effects of Na V , Ca V and NALCN block-ers on both wild-type (WT) and AAAA channels. Most compounds behaved in a simi-lar manner on both channels, but phenytoin and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) elicited additional, distinct responses on AAAA channels. Further experiments using single alanine mutants revealed that phenytoin and 2-APB enter the inner cav-ity through distinct fenestrations, implying structural specificity to their modes of ac-cess. Using a combination of computational and functional approaches, we identified amino acid residues critical for 2-APB activity, supporting the existence of drug bind-ing site(s) within the pore region. Intrigued by the activity of 2-APB and its ana-logues, we tested additional compounds containing the diphenylmethane/amine moiety on WT channels. We identified compounds from existing clinically used drugs that exhibited diverse activity, thus expanding the pharmacological toolbox for NALCN. While the low potencies of active compounds reiterate the resistance of NALCN to pharmacological targeting, our findings lay the foundation for rational drug design to develop NALCN modulators with refined properties. Significance statement The sodium leak channel (NALCN) is essential for survival: mutations cause life-threatening developmental disorders in humans. However, no treatment is currently available due to the resistance of NALCN to pharmacological targeting. One likely reason is that the lateral fenestrations, a common route for clinically used drugs to enter and block related ion channels, are occluded in NALCN. Using a combination of computational and functional approaches, we unplugged the fenestrations of NALCN which led us to the first molecularly defined drug binding site within the pore region. Besides that, we also identified additional NALCN modulators from existing clinically used therapeutics, thus expanding the pharmacological toolbox for this leak channel.
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Wang H, Cai H, Li L. Comprehensive analysis of m6A reader YTHDF2 prognosis, immune infiltration, and related regulatory networks in hepatocellular carcinoma. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23204. [PMID: 38163150 PMCID: PMC10756983 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification is the most prevalent internal modification pattern in eukaryotic mRNAs and plays critical roles in diverse physiological and pathological processes. However, the expression of m6A regulator YTHDF2, its prognostic value, its biological function, its correlation with tumor microenvironment (TME) immune infiltrates, and related regulatory networks in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain determined. Methods TCGA, GTEx, and GEO databases were used to investigate the expression profile of YTHDF2 in HCC. We performed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis and constructed a PPI network to explore the biological processes of YTHDF2 in HCC. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis were used to assess the prognostic value of YTHDF2 and then a clinical prognostic nomogram was constructed. Additionally, ssGSEA was performed to assess the correlation between YTHDF2 and immune infiltration levels. The TISIDB database was applied to explore the expression of YTHDF2 in immune and molecular subtypes of HCC. GSEA identifies the YTHDF2-related signaling pathways. Finally, we utilized miRNet and starBase database to construct regulatory networks for HCC based on lncRNA-miRNA and miRNA-YTHDF2 interactions. Results YTHDF2 was significantly upregulated in HCC tumor tissues compared with the adjacent normal tissues. HCC patients in the high YTHDF2 expression group had poorer survival. Multivariate Cox analysis suggested that YTHDF2 may be a new independent prognostic indicator for HCC patients, with the prognostic nomogram exhibiting satisfactory results. YTHDF2 expression was significantly correlated with TME immune cell-infiltrating characteristics. Strong correlations were also shown in immune subtypes, molecular subtypes and immune checkpoints. Further analysis revealed that the combination of YTHDF2 expression and immune cell score was considerably associated with survival outcome in HCC patients. GESA analysis demonstrated that high YTHDF2 expression is associated with multiple biological processes and oncogenic pathways. Moreover, 14 possible regulatory networks were constructed, which are associated with HCC progression. Conclusion Our findings revealed that YTHDF2 may serve as a promising prognostic biomarker for HCC and may regulate the tumor immune microenvironment to provide effective therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Wang
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Health Management, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Disease Prevention and Healthcare, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Hui Cai
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Health Management, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Li Li
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Health Management, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Department of Disease Prevention and Healthcare, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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13
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Yang G, Jia M, Li G, Zang YY, Chen YY, Wang YY, Zhan SY, Peng SX, Wan G, Li W, Yang JJ, Shi YS. TMEM63B channel is the osmosensor required for thirst drive of interoceptive neurons. Cell Discov 2024; 10:1. [PMID: 38172113 PMCID: PMC10764952 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00628-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Thirst plays a vital role in the regulation of body fluid homeostasis and if deregulated can be life-threatening. Interoceptive neurons in the subfornical organ (SFO) are intrinsically osmosensitive and their activation by hyperosmolarity is necessary and sufficient for generating thirst. However, the primary molecules sensing systemic osmolarity in these neurons remain elusive. Here we show that the mechanosensitive TMEM63B cation channel is the osmosensor required for the interoceptive neurons to drive thirst. TMEM63B channel is highly expressed in the excitatory SFO thirst neurons. TMEM63B deletion in these neurons impaired hyperosmolarity-induced drinking behavior, while re-expressing TMEM63B in SFO restored water appetite in TMEM63B-deficient mice. Remarkably, hyperosmolarity activates TMEM63B channels, leading to depolarization and increased firing rate of the interoceptive neurons, which drives drinking behavior. Furthermore, TMEM63B deletion did not affect sensitivities of the SFO neurons to angiotensin II or hypoosmolarity, suggesting that TMEM63B plays a specialized role in detecting hyperosmolarity in SFO neurons. Thus, our results reveal a critical osmosensor molecule for the generation of thirst perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guolin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Guangdong Institute of Intelligence Science and Technology, Hengqin, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Min Jia
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Guizhou Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan-Yu Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yang-Yang Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue-Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Guangdong Institute of Intelligence Science and Technology, Hengqin, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Shi-Yu Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Guangdong Institute of Intelligence Science and Technology, Hengqin, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Shi-Xiao Peng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guoqiang Wan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jian-Jun Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| | - Yun Stone Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
- Guangdong Institute of Intelligence Science and Technology, Hengqin, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
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14
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Monteil A, Guérineau NC, Gil-Nagel A, Parra-Diaz P, Lory P, Senatore A. New insights into the physiology and pathophysiology of the atypical sodium leak channel NALCN. Physiol Rev 2024; 104:399-472. [PMID: 37615954 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00014.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell excitability and its modulation by hormones and neurotransmitters involve the concerted action of a large repertoire of membrane proteins, especially ion channels. Unique complements of coexpressed ion channels are exquisitely balanced against each other in different excitable cell types, establishing distinct electrical properties that are tailored for diverse physiological contributions, and dysfunction of any component may induce a disease state. A crucial parameter controlling cell excitability is the resting membrane potential (RMP) set by extra- and intracellular concentrations of ions, mainly Na+, K+, and Cl-, and their passive permeation across the cell membrane through leak ion channels. Indeed, dysregulation of RMP causes significant effects on cellular excitability. This review describes the molecular and physiological properties of the Na+ leak channel NALCN, which associates with its accessory subunits UNC-79, UNC-80, and NLF-1/FAM155 to conduct depolarizing background Na+ currents in various excitable cell types, especially neurons. Studies of animal models clearly demonstrate that NALCN contributes to fundamental physiological processes in the nervous system including the control of respiratory rhythm, circadian rhythm, sleep, and locomotor behavior. Furthermore, dysfunction of NALCN and its subunits is associated with severe pathological states in humans. The critical involvement of NALCN in physiology is now well established, but its study has been hampered by the lack of specific drugs that can block or agonize NALCN currents in vitro and in vivo. Molecular tools and animal models are now available to accelerate our understanding of how NALCN contributes to key physiological functions and the development of novel therapies for NALCN channelopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Monteil
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
- LabEx "Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics," Montpellier, France
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nathalie C Guérineau
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
- LabEx "Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics," Montpellier, France
| | - Antonio Gil-Nagel
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Program, Hospital Ruber Internacional, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Parra-Diaz
- Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Program, Hospital Ruber Internacional, Madrid, Spain
| | - Philippe Lory
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
- LabEx "Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics," Montpellier, France
| | - Adriano Senatore
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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15
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Bahcheli AT, Min HK, Bayati M, Zhao H, Fortuna A, Dong W, Dzneladze I, Chan J, Chen X, Guevara-Hoyer K, Dirks PB, Huang X, Reimand J. Pan-cancer ion transport signature reveals functional regulators of glioblastoma aggression. EMBO J 2024; 43:196-224. [PMID: 38177502 PMCID: PMC10897389 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-023-00016-x] [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: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Ion channels, transporters, and other ion-flux controlling proteins, collectively comprising the "ion permeome", are common drug targets, however, their roles in cancer remain understudied. Our integrative pan-cancer transcriptome analysis shows that genes encoding the ion permeome are significantly more often highly expressed in specific subsets of cancer samples, compared to pan-transcriptome expectations. To enable target selection, we identified 410 survival-associated IP genes in 33 cancer types using a machine-learning approach. Notably, GJB2 and SCN9A show prominent expression in neoplastic cells and are associated with poor prognosis in glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive brain cancer. GJB2 or SCN9A knockdown in patient-derived glioblastoma cells induces transcriptome-wide changes involving neuron projection and proliferation pathways, impairs cell viability and tumor sphere formation in vitro, perturbs tunneling nanotube dynamics, and extends the survival of glioblastoma-bearing mice. Thus, aberrant activation of genes encoding ion transport proteins appears as a pan-cancer feature defining tumor heterogeneity, which can be exploited for mechanistic insights and therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander T Bahcheli
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hyun-Kee Min
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Masroor Bayati
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hongyu Zhao
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Neurosurgery and Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Brain Tumor Research, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Alexander Fortuna
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Weifan Dong
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Irakli Dzneladze
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jade Chan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xin Chen
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kissy Guevara-Hoyer
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Cancer Immunomonitoring and Immuno-Mediated Pathologies Support Unit, Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Laboratory Medicine (IML) and Biomedical Research Foundation (IdiSCC), San Carlos Clinical Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Peter B Dirks
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xi Huang
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Jüri Reimand
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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16
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Shorthouse D, Zhuang L, Rahrmann EP, Kosmidou C, Wickham Rahrmann K, Hall M, Greenwood B, Devonshire G, Gilbertson RJ, Fitzgerald RC, Hall BA. KCNQ potassium channels modulate Wnt activity in gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinomas. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202302124. [PMID: 37748809 PMCID: PMC10520261 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Voltage-sensitive potassium channels play an important role in controlling membrane potential and ionic homeostasis in the gut and have been implicated in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Through large-scale analysis of 897 patients with gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinomas (GOAs) coupled with in vitro models, we find KCNQ family genes are mutated in ∼30% of patients, and play therapeutically targetable roles in GOA cancer growth. KCNQ1 and KCNQ3 mediate the WNT pathway and MYC to increase proliferation through resultant effects on cadherin junctions. This also highlights novel roles of KCNQ3 in non-excitable tissues. We also discover that activity of KCNQ3 sensitises cancer cells to existing potassium channel inhibitors and that inhibition of KCNQ activity reduces proliferation of GOA cancer cells. These findings reveal a novel and exploitable role of potassium channels in the advancement of human cancer, and highlight that supplemental treatments for GOAs may exist through KCNQ inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Shorthouse
- https://ror.org/02jx3x895 Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Malet Place Engineering Building, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lizhe Zhuang
- Institute for Early Detection, CRUK Cambridge Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Eric P Rahrmann
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Michael Hall
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Benedict Greenwood
- https://ror.org/02jx3x895 Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Malet Place Engineering Building, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ginny Devonshire
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Richard J Gilbertson
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Benjamin A Hall
- https://ror.org/02jx3x895 Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Malet Place Engineering Building, University College London, London, UK
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17
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Tagore M, Hergenreder E, Perlee SC, Cruz NM, Menocal L, Suresh S, Chan E, Baron M, Melendez S, Dave A, Chatila WK, Nsengimana J, Koche RP, Hollmann TJ, Ideker T, Studer L, Schietinger A, White RM. GABA Regulates Electrical Activity and Tumor Initiation in Melanoma. Cancer Discov 2023; 13:2270-2291. [PMID: 37553760 PMCID: PMC10551668 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0389] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenes can initiate tumors only in certain cellular contexts, which is referred to as oncogenic competence. In melanoma, whether cells in the microenvironment can endow such competence remains unclear. Using a combination of zebrafish transgenesis coupled with human tissues, we demonstrate that GABAergic signaling between keratinocytes and melanocytes promotes melanoma initiation by BRAFV600E. GABA is synthesized in melanoma cells, which then acts on GABA-A receptors in keratinocytes. Electron microscopy demonstrates specialized cell-cell junctions between keratinocytes and melanoma cells, and multielectrode array analysis shows that GABA acts to inhibit electrical activity in melanoma/keratinocyte cocultures. Genetic and pharmacologic perturbation of GABA synthesis abrogates melanoma initiation in vivo. These data suggest that GABAergic signaling across the skin microenvironment regulates the ability of oncogenes to initiate melanoma. SIGNIFICANCE This study shows evidence of GABA-mediated regulation of electrical activity between melanoma cells and keratinocytes, providing a new mechanism by which the microenvironment promotes tumor initiation. This provides insights into the role of the skin microenvironment in early melanomas while identifying GABA as a potential therapeutic target in melanoma. See related commentary by Ceol, p. 2128. This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 2109.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohita Tagore
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Emiliano Hergenreder
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York
- Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Sarah C. Perlee
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Nelly M. Cruz
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Laura Menocal
- Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Shruthy Suresh
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Eric Chan
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Maayan Baron
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Stephanie Melendez
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Asim Dave
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Walid K. Chatila
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jeremie Nsengimana
- Biostatistics Research Group, Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Richard P. Koche
- Center for Epigenetics Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Travis J. Hollmann
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Trey Ideker
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Lorenz Studer
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York
| | - Andrea Schietinger
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Richard M. White
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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18
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Stejerean‐Todoran I, Bogeski I. Malignant currents: sodium leak channel NALCN propels prostate cancer aggressiveness. EMBO J 2023; 42:e114986. [PMID: 37635635 PMCID: PMC10548164 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2023114986] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Although ion transporters and channels have been extensively studied over the last couple of decades, there are still unresolved aspects with regards to their contribution to cancer cell biology. Recent work by Folcher et al (2023) reports a critical role for Na+ leak channel NALCN in metastatic prostate cancer. The study demonstrates that NALCN promotes metastatic spread to distant organs by controlling Ca2+ signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Stejerean‐Todoran
- Molecular Physiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology, University Medical CenterGeorg‐August‐UniversityGöttingenGermany
| | - Ivan Bogeski
- Molecular Physiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology, University Medical CenterGeorg‐August‐UniversityGöttingenGermany
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19
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Nousiainen S, Kuismin O, Reinikka S, Manninen R, Khamaiseh S, Kuivalainen M, Terho A, Koivurova S, Niinimäki M, Salokas K, Varjosalo M, Ahtikoski A, Bützow R, Lindgren O, Uimari O, Vahteristo P. Whole-exome sequencing reveals candidate high-risk susceptibility genes for endometriosis. Hum Genomics 2023; 17:88. [PMID: 37789421 PMCID: PMC10546785 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-023-00538-9] [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: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endometriosis is a common, chronic disease among fertile-aged women. Disease course may be highly invasive, requiring extensive surgery. The etiology of endometriosis remains elusive, though a high level of heritability is well established. Several low-penetrance predisposing loci have been identified, but high-risk susceptibility remains undetermined. Endometriosis is known to increase the risk of epithelial ovarian cancers, especially of endometrioid and clear cell types. Here, we have analyzed a Finnish family where four women have been diagnosed with surgically verified, severely symptomatic endometriosis and two of the patients also with high-grade serous carcinoma. RESULTS Whole-exome sequencing revealed three rare candidate predisposing variants segregating with endometriosis. The variants were c.1238C>T, p.(Pro413Leu) in FGFR4, c.5065C>T, p.(Arg1689Trp) in NALCN, and c.2086G>A, p.(Val696Met) in NAV2. The only variant predicted deleterious by in silico tools was the one in FGFR4. Further screening of the variants in 92 Finnish endometriosis and in 19 endometriosis-ovarian cancer patients did not reveal additional carriers. Histopathology, positive p53 immunostaining, and genetic analysis supported the high-grade serous subtype of the two tumors in the family. CONCLUSIONS Here, we provide FGFR4, NALCN, and NAV2 as novel high-risk candidate genes for familial endometriosis. Our results also support the association of endometriosis with high-grade serous carcinoma. Further studies are required to validate the findings and to reveal the exact pathogenesis mechanisms of endometriosis. Elucidating the genetic background of endometriosis defines the etiology of the disease and provides opportunities for expedited diagnostics and personalized treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Nousiainen
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Kuismin
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Siiri Reinikka
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Roosa Manninen
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sara Khamaiseh
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mari Kuivalainen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kainuu Central Hospital, Kajaani, Finland
| | - Anna Terho
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sari Koivurova
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Maarit Niinimäki
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Kari Salokas
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markku Varjosalo
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Ahtikoski
- Department of Pathology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Ralf Bützow
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Pathology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Lindgren
- Research Unit of Clinical Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Pathology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Outi Uimari
- Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Pia Vahteristo
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, P.O. Box 63, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, Helsinki, Finland.
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20
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Jassim A, Rahrmann EP, Simons BD, Gilbertson RJ. Cancers make their own luck: theories of cancer origins. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:710-724. [PMID: 37488363 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00602-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Cancer has been a leading cause of death for decades. This dismal statistic has increased efforts to prevent the disease or to detect it early, when treatment is less invasive, relatively inexpensive and more likely to cure. But precisely how tissues are transformed continues to provoke controversy and debate, hindering cancer prevention and early intervention strategies. Various theories of cancer origins have emerged, including the suggestion that it is 'bad luck': the inevitable consequence of random mutations in proliferating stem cells. In this Review, we discuss the principal theories of cancer origins and the relative importance of the factors that underpin them. The body of available evidence suggests that developing and ageing tissues 'walk a tightrope', retaining adequate levels of cell plasticity to generate and maintain tissues while avoiding overstepping into transformation. Rather than viewing cancer as 'bad luck', understanding the complex choreography of cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors that characterize transformation holds promise to discover effective new ways to prevent, detect and stop cancer before it becomes incurable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Jassim
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Eric P Rahrmann
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ben D Simons
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Richard J Gilbertson
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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21
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Grashei M, Wodtke P, Skinner JG, Sühnel S, Setzer N, Metzler T, Gulde S, Park M, Witt D, Mohr H, Hundshammer C, Strittmatter N, Pellegata NS, Steiger K, Schilling F. Simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging of pH, perfusion and renal filtration using hyperpolarized 13C-labelled Z-OMPD. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5060. [PMID: 37604826 PMCID: PMC10442412 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40747-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
pH alterations are a hallmark of many pathologies including cancer and kidney disease. Here, we introduce [1,5-13C2]Z-OMPD as a hyperpolarized extracellular pH and perfusion sensor for MRI which allows to generate a multiparametric fingerprint of renal disease status and to detect local tumor acidification. Exceptional long T1 of two minutes at 1 T, high pH sensitivity of up to 1.9 ppm per pH unit and suitability of using the C1-label as internal frequency reference enables pH imaging in vivo of three pH compartments in healthy rat kidneys. Spectrally selective targeting of both 13C-resonances enables simultaneous imaging of perfusion and filtration in 3D and pH in 2D within one minute to quantify renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rates and renal pH in healthy and hydronephrotic kidneys with superior sensitivity compared to clinical routine methods. Imaging multiple biomarkers within a single session renders [1,5-13C2]Z-OMPD a promising new hyperpolarized agent for oncology and nephrology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Grashei
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, TUM School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, D-81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Pascal Wodtke
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, TUM School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, D-81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Jason G Skinner
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, TUM School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, D-81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Sühnel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, TUM School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, D-81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Nadine Setzer
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, TUM School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, D-81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Metzler
- Comparative Experimental Pathology (CEP), Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, D-81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Gulde
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Mihyun Park
- Department of Biosciences, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, D-85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Daniela Witt
- Department of Biosciences, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, D-85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Hermine Mohr
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Christian Hundshammer
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, TUM School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, D-81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicole Strittmatter
- Department of Biosciences, TUM School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, D-85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Natalia S Pellegata
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764, Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, I-27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Katja Steiger
- Comparative Experimental Pathology (CEP), Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, D-81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Franz Schilling
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, TUM School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, D-81675, Munich, Germany.
- Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Technical University of Munich, D-85748, Garching, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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22
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Pérez-González A, Bévant K, Blanpain C. Cancer cell plasticity during tumor progression, metastasis and response to therapy. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:1063-1082. [PMID: 37537300 PMCID: PMC7615147 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00595-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Cell plasticity represents the ability of cells to be reprogrammed and to change their fate and identity, enabling homeostasis restoration and tissue regeneration following damage. Cell plasticity also contributes to pathological conditions, such as cancer, enabling cells to acquire new phenotypic and functional features by transiting across distinct cell states that contribute to tumor initiation, progression, metastasis and resistance to therapy. Here, we review the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms driving cell plasticity that promote tumor growth and proliferation as well as metastasis and drug tolerance. Finally, we discuss how cell plasticity could be exploited for anti-cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pérez-González
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Cancer, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kevin Bévant
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Cancer, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cédric Blanpain
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Cancer, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.
- WELBIO, ULB, Bruxelles, Belgium.
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23
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van Amerongen R, Bentires-Alj M, van Boxtel AL, Clarke RB, Fre S, Suarez EG, Iggo R, Jechlinger M, Jonkers J, Mikkola ML, Koledova ZS, Sørlie T, Vivanco MDM. Imagine beyond: recent breakthroughs and next challenges in mammary gland biology and breast cancer research. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2023; 28:17. [PMID: 37450065 PMCID: PMC10349020 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-023-09544-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
On 8 December 2022 the organizing committee of the European Network for Breast Development and Cancer labs (ENBDC) held its fifth annual Think Tank meeting in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Here, we embraced the opportunity to look back to identify the most prominent breakthroughs of the past ten years and to reflect on the main challenges that lie ahead for our field in the years to come. The outcomes of these discussions are presented in this position paper, in the hope that it will serve as a summary of the current state of affairs in mammary gland biology and breast cancer research for early career researchers and other newcomers in the field, and as inspiration for scientists and clinicians to move the field forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée van Amerongen
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Mohamed Bentires-Alj
- Laboratory of Tumor Heterogeneity, Metastasis and Resistance, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Antonius L van Boxtel
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Robert B Clarke
- Manchester Breast Centre, Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Silvia Fre
- Institut Curie, Genetics and Developmental Biology Department, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR3215, U93475248, InsermParis, France
| | - Eva Gonzalez Suarez
- Transformation and Metastasis Laboratory, Molecular Oncology, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- Oncobell, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Richard Iggo
- INSERM U1312, University of Bordeaux, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Martin Jechlinger
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Department, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany
- Molit Institute of Personalized Medicine, Heilbronn, Germany
| | - Jos Jonkers
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marja L Mikkola
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, P.O.B. 56, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Zuzana Sumbalova Koledova
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Therese Sørlie
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maria dM Vivanco
- Cancer Heterogeneity Lab, CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance, BRTA, Technological Park Bizkaia, 48160, Derio, Spain
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24
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Folcher A, Gordienko D, Iamshanova O, Bokhobza A, Shapovalov G, Kannancheri‐Puthooru D, Mariot P, Allart L, Desruelles E, Spriet C, Diez R, Oullier T, Marionneau‐Lambot S, Brisson L, Geraci S, Impheng H, Lehen'kyi V, Haustrate A, Mihalache A, Gosset P, Chadet S, Retif S, Laube M, Sobilo J, Lerondel S, Villari G, Serini G, Pla AF, Roger S, Fromont‐Hankard G, Djamgoz M, Clezardin P, Monteil A, Prevarskaya N. NALCN-mediated sodium influx confers metastatic prostate cancer cell invasiveness. EMBO J 2023; 42:e112198. [PMID: 37278161 PMCID: PMC10308360 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that ion channels are critically involved in cancer cell invasiveness and metastasis. However, the molecular mechanisms of ion signaling promoting cancer behavior are poorly understood and the complexity of the underlying remodeling during metastasis remains to be explored. Here, using a variety of in vitro and in vivo techniques, we show that metastatic prostate cancer cells acquire a specific Na+ /Ca2+ signature required for persistent invasion. We identify the Na+ leak channel, NALCN, which is overexpressed in metastatic prostate cancer, as a major initiator and regulator of Ca2+ oscillations required for invadopodia formation. Indeed, NALCN-mediated Na+ influx into cancer cells maintains intracellular Ca2+ oscillations via a specific chain of ion transport proteins including plasmalemmal and mitochondrial Na+ /Ca2+ exchangers, SERCA and store-operated channels. This signaling cascade promotes activity of the NACLN-colocalized proto-oncogene Src kinase, actin remodeling and secretion of proteolytic enzymes, thus increasing cancer cell invasive potential and metastatic lesions in vivo. Overall, our findings provide new insights into an ion signaling pathway specific for metastatic cells where NALCN acts as persistent invasion controller.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Folcher
- Inserm U1003, Laboratory of Excellence, Ion Channels Science and Therapeutics, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, GIS ONCO LilleUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
| | - Dmitri Gordienko
- Inserm U1003, Laboratory of Excellence, Ion Channels Science and Therapeutics, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, GIS ONCO LilleUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
| | - Oksana Iamshanova
- Inserm U1003, Laboratory of Excellence, Ion Channels Science and Therapeutics, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, GIS ONCO LilleUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
| | - Alexandre Bokhobza
- Inserm U1003, Laboratory of Excellence, Ion Channels Science and Therapeutics, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, GIS ONCO LilleUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
| | - George Shapovalov
- Inserm U1003, Laboratory of Excellence, Ion Channels Science and Therapeutics, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, GIS ONCO LilleUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
| | - Dheeraj Kannancheri‐Puthooru
- Inserm U1003, Laboratory of Excellence, Ion Channels Science and Therapeutics, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, GIS ONCO LilleUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
| | - Pascal Mariot
- Inserm U1003, Laboratory of Excellence, Ion Channels Science and Therapeutics, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, GIS ONCO LilleUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
| | - Laurent Allart
- Inserm U1003, Laboratory of Excellence, Ion Channels Science and Therapeutics, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, GIS ONCO LilleUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
| | - Emilie Desruelles
- Inserm U1003, Laboratory of Excellence, Ion Channels Science and Therapeutics, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, GIS ONCO LilleUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
| | - Corentin Spriet
- TISBio, Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle (UGSF), CNRS, UMR 8576Université de LilleLilleFrance
| | - Raquel Diez
- Cell Physiology Research Group, Department of PhysiologyUniversity of ExtremaduraCáceresSpain
| | | | | | - Lucie Brisson
- Inserm UMR1069, Nutrition Croissance et CancerUniversity of ToursToursFrance
| | - Sandra Geraci
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Inserm UMR 1033 LYOSLyonFrance
| | - Hathaichanok Impheng
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical scienceNaresuan UniversityPhitsanulokThailand
| | - V'yacheslav Lehen'kyi
- Inserm U1003, Laboratory of Excellence, Ion Channels Science and Therapeutics, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, GIS ONCO LilleUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
| | - Aurélien Haustrate
- Inserm U1003, Laboratory of Excellence, Ion Channels Science and Therapeutics, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, GIS ONCO LilleUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
| | - Adriana Mihalache
- Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie PathologiquesGroupement des Hôpitaux de l'Université Catholique de LilleLilleFrance
| | - Pierre Gosset
- Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie PathologiquesGroupement des Hôpitaux de l'Université Catholique de LilleLilleFrance
| | - Stéphanie Chadet
- EA4245 Transplantation, Immunology, InflammationUniversity of ToursToursFrance
| | - Stéphanie Retif
- PHENOMIN‐TAAM, CNRS UPS44, Centre d'Imagerie du Petit Animal (CIPA), 3B rue de la FérollerieOrléansFrance
| | - Maryline Laube
- PHENOMIN‐TAAM, CNRS UPS44, Centre d'Imagerie du Petit Animal (CIPA), 3B rue de la FérollerieOrléansFrance
| | - Julien Sobilo
- PHENOMIN‐TAAM, CNRS UPS44, Centre d'Imagerie du Petit Animal (CIPA), 3B rue de la FérollerieOrléansFrance
| | - Stéphanie Lerondel
- PHENOMIN‐TAAM, CNRS UPS44, Centre d'Imagerie du Petit Animal (CIPA), 3B rue de la FérollerieOrléansFrance
| | - Giulia Villari
- Department of OncologyUniversity of Torino School of MedicineCandioloItaly
- Candiolo Cancer Institute – Fondazione del Piemonte per l'Oncologia (FPO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS)CandioloItaly
| | - Guido Serini
- Department of OncologyUniversity of Torino School of MedicineCandioloItaly
- Candiolo Cancer Institute – Fondazione del Piemonte per l'Oncologia (FPO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS)CandioloItaly
| | | | - Sébastien Roger
- EA4245 Transplantation, Immunology, InflammationUniversity of ToursToursFrance
| | - Gaelle Fromont‐Hankard
- Inserm UMR1069, Nutrition Croissance et CancerUniversity of ToursToursFrance
- Department of PathologyCHRU de ToursToursFrance
| | - Mustafa Djamgoz
- Department of Life SciencesImperial College LondonLondonUK
- Biotechnology Research CentreCyprus International UniversityMersinTürkiye
| | - Philippe Clezardin
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Inserm UMR 1033 LYOSLyonFrance
| | - Arnaud Monteil
- LabEx “Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics”, IGF, CNRS, INSERMUniversity of MontpellierMontpellierFrance
| | - Natalia Prevarskaya
- Inserm U1003, Laboratory of Excellence, Ion Channels Science and Therapeutics, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, GIS ONCO LilleUniversity of LilleLilleFrance
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25
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Gerstberger S, Jiang Q, Ganesh K. Metastasis. Cell 2023; 186:1564-1579. [PMID: 37059065 PMCID: PMC10511214 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 118.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Most cancer-associated deaths occur due to metastasis, yet our understanding of metastasis as an evolving, heterogeneous, systemic disease and of how to effectively treat it is still emerging. Metastasis requires the acquisition of a succession of traits to disseminate, variably enter and exit dormancy, and colonize distant organs. The success of these events is driven by clonal selection, the potential of metastatic cells to dynamically transition into distinct states, and their ability to co-opt the immune environment. Here, we review the main principles of metastasis and highlight emerging opportunities to develop more effective therapies for metastatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Gerstberger
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Qingwen Jiang
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karuna Ganesh
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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26
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Winkler F, Venkatesh HS, Amit M, Batchelor T, Demir IE, Deneen B, Gutmann DH, Hervey-Jumper S, Kuner T, Mabbott D, Platten M, Rolls A, Sloan EK, Wang TC, Wick W, Venkataramani V, Monje M. Cancer neuroscience: State of the field, emerging directions. Cell 2023; 186:1689-1707. [PMID: 37059069 PMCID: PMC10107403 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
The nervous system governs both ontogeny and oncology. Regulating organogenesis during development, maintaining homeostasis, and promoting plasticity throughout life, the nervous system plays parallel roles in the regulation of cancers. Foundational discoveries have elucidated direct paracrine and electrochemical communication between neurons and cancer cells, as well as indirect interactions through neural effects on the immune system and stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment in a wide range of malignancies. Nervous system-cancer interactions can regulate oncogenesis, growth, invasion and metastatic spread, treatment resistance, stimulation of tumor-promoting inflammation, and impairment of anti-cancer immunity. Progress in cancer neuroscience may create an important new pillar of cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Winkler
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg and Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Humsa S Venkatesh
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Moran Amit
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tracy Batchelor
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ihsan Ekin Demir
- Department of Surgery, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Benjamin Deneen
- Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David H Gutmann
- Department of Neurology, Washington University, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Shawn Hervey-Jumper
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Kuner
- Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Donald Mabbott
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto and Neuroscience & Mental Health Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael Platten
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Asya Rolls
- Department of Immunology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Erica K Sloan
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Timothy C Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wolfgang Wick
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg and Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Varun Venkataramani
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg and Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Michelle Monje
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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27
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Ganesh K. Uncoupling Metastasis from Tumorigenesis. N Engl J Med 2023; 388:657-659. [PMID: 36791168 PMCID: PMC10375401 DOI: 10.1056/nejmcibr2213497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Karuna Ganesh
- From the Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, and the Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York
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He J, Xu J, Chang Z, Yan J, Zhang L, Qin Y. NALCN is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in human cancers. Front Genet 2023; 14:1164707. [PMID: 37152978 PMCID: PMC10154523 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1164707] [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] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Sodium leak channel non-selective (NALCN), known as a voltage-independent Na+ channel, is increasingly considered to play vital roles in tumorigenesis and metastasis of human cancers. However, no comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of NALCN has been conducted. Our study aims to explore the potential diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic value of NALCN in human cancers. Methods: Through comprehensive application of datasets from Human Protein Atlas (HPA), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), Enhanced Version of Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER2.0), Tumor and Immune System Interaction Database (TISIDB), The University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer data analysis Portal (UALCAN), cBioPortal, GeneMANIA and Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interaction Gene/Proteins (STRING) databases, we explored the potential roles of NALCN in different cancers. The differential expression, prognostic implications, pathological stages and grades, molecular and immune subtypes, diagnostic accuracy, tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), mismatch repair (MMR) genes, immune checkpoint genes, chemokine genes, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-related genes, tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), promoter methylation, mutations, copy number alteration (CNA), and functional enrichment related to NALCN were analyzed. Results: Most cancers lowly expressed NALCN. Upregulated NALCN expression was associated with poor or better prognosis in different cancers. Moreover, NALCN was correlated with clinicopathological features in multiple cancers. NALCN showed high diagnostic accuracy in 5 caner types. NALCN is highly linked with immune-related biomarkers, immune-related genes and TIICs. Significant methylation changes and genetic alteration of NALCN can be observed in many cancers. Enrichment analysis showed that NALCN is closely related to multiple tumor-related signaling pathways. Conclusion: Our study revealed the vital involvement of NALCN in cancer. NALCN can be used as a prognostic biomarker for immune infiltration and clinical outcomes, and has potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian He
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jie Xu
- School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Zhiwei Chang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiaqin Yan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Limin Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanru Qin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yanru Qin,
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Nobre AR, Boire A. Skip to the end: metastasis before tumorigenesis. Nat Genet 2022; 54:1774-1775. [PMID: 36369288 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01228-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Nobre
- Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adrienne Boire
- Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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