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Zhou Y, Tao L, Qiu J, Xu J, Yang X, Zhang Y, Tian X, Guan X, Cen X, Zhao Y. Tumor biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and targeted therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:132. [PMID: 38763973 PMCID: PMC11102923 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01823-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor biomarkers, the substances which are produced by tumors or the body's responses to tumors during tumorigenesis and progression, have been demonstrated to possess critical and encouraging value in screening and early diagnosis, prognosis prediction, recurrence detection, and therapeutic efficacy monitoring of cancers. Over the past decades, continuous progress has been made in exploring and discovering novel, sensitive, specific, and accurate tumor biomarkers, which has significantly promoted personalized medicine and improved the outcomes of cancer patients, especially advances in molecular biology technologies developed for the detection of tumor biomarkers. Herein, we summarize the discovery and development of tumor biomarkers, including the history of tumor biomarkers, the conventional and innovative technologies used for biomarker discovery and detection, the classification of tumor biomarkers based on tissue origins, and the application of tumor biomarkers in clinical cancer management. In particular, we highlight the recent advancements in biomarker-based anticancer-targeted therapies which are emerging as breakthroughs and promising cancer therapeutic strategies. We also discuss limitations and challenges that need to be addressed and provide insights and perspectives to turn challenges into opportunities in this field. Collectively, the discovery and application of multiple tumor biomarkers emphasized in this review may provide guidance on improved precision medicine, broaden horizons in future research directions, and expedite the clinical classification of cancer patients according to their molecular biomarkers rather than organs of origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhou
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Lei Tao
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jiahao Qiu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xinyu Yang
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- School of Medicine, Tibet University, Lhasa, 850000, China
| | - Xinyu Tian
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xinqi Guan
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaobo Cen
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- National Chengdu Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yinglan Zhao
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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2
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Loe TK, Lazzerini Denchi E, Tricola GM, Azeroglu B. ALTercations at telomeres: stress, recombination and extrachromosomal affairs. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:1935-1946. [PMID: 37767563 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230265] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 15% of human cancers depend on the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway to maintain telomeres and proliferate. Telomeres that are elongated using ALT display unique features raising the exciting prospect of tailored cancer therapies. ALT-mediated telomere elongation shares several features with recombination-based DNA repair. Strikingly, cells that use the ALT pathway display abnormal levels of replication stress at telomeres and accumulate abundant extrachromosomal telomeric DNA. In this review, we examine recent findings that shed light on the ALT mechanisms and the strategies currently available to suppress this telomere elongation mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor K Loe
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, U.S.A
| | - Eros Lazzerini Denchi
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, U.S.A
| | - Gianna M Tricola
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, U.S.A
| | - Benura Azeroglu
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, U.S.A
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3
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Revy P, Kannengiesser C, Bertuch AA. Genetics of human telomere biology disorders. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:86-108. [PMID: 36151328 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-022-00527-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are specialized nucleoprotein structures at the ends of linear chromosomes that prevent the activation of DNA damage response and repair pathways. Numerous factors localize at telomeres to regulate their length, structure and function, to avert replicative senescence or genome instability and cell death. In humans, Mendelian defects in several of these factors can result in abnormally short or dysfunctional telomeres, causing a group of rare heterogeneous premature-ageing diseases, termed telomeropathies, short-telomere syndromes or telomere biology disorders (TBDs). Here, we review the TBD-causing genes identified so far and describe their main functions associated with telomere biology. We present molecular aspects of TBDs, including genetic anticipation, phenocopy, incomplete penetrance and somatic genetic rescue, which underlie the complexity of these diseases. We also discuss the implications of phenotypic and genetic features of TBDs on fundamental aspects related to human telomere biology, ageing and cancer, as well as on diagnostic, therapeutic and clinical approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Revy
- INSERM UMR 1163, Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Paris, France.
- Université Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris, France.
| | - Caroline Kannengiesser
- APHP Service de Génétique, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France
- Inserm U1152, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Alison A Bertuch
- Departments of Paediatrics and Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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4
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Azeroglu B, Ozbun L, Pegoraro G, Lazzerini Denchi E. Native FISH: A low- and high-throughput assay to analyze the alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) pathway. Methods Cell Biol 2022; 182:265-284. [PMID: 38359982 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2022.10.010] [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: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) is a telomerase-independent and recombination-based mechanism used by approximately 15% of human cancers to maintain telomere length and to sustain proliferation. ALT-positive cells display unique features that could be exploited for tailored cancer therapies. A key limitation for the development of ALT-specific treatments is the lack of an assay to detect ALT-positive cells that is easy to perform and that can be scaled up. One of the most broadly used assays for ALT detection, CCA (C-circle assay), does not provide single-cell information and it is not amenable to High-Throughput Screening (HTS). To overcome these limitations, we developed Native-FISH (N-FISH) as an alternative method to visualize ALT-specific single-stranded telomeric DNA. N-FISH produces single-cell data, can be applied to fixed tissues, does not require DNA isolation or amplification steps, and it can be miniaturized in a 384-well format. This protocol details the steps to perform N-FISH protocol both in a low- and high-throughput format to analyze ALT. While low-throughput N-FISH is useful to assay the ALT state of cell lines, we expect that the miniaturized N-FISH assay coupled with high-throughput imaging will be useful in functional genomics and chemical screens to identify novel cellular factors that regulate ALT and potential ALT therapeutic targets for cancer therapies directed against ALT-positive tumors, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benura Azeroglu
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States.
| | - Laurent Ozbun
- High-Throughput Imaging Facility (HiTIF), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Gianluca Pegoraro
- High-Throughput Imaging Facility (HiTIF), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Eros Lazzerini Denchi
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
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5
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Vaurs M, Audry J, Runge KW, Géli V, Coulon S. A proto-telomere is elongated by telomerase in a shelterin-dependent manner in quiescent fission yeast cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:11682-11695. [PMID: 36330920 PMCID: PMC9723628 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere elongation is coupled with genome replication, raising the question of the repair of short telomeres in post-mitotic cells. We investigated the fate of a telomere-repeat capped end that mimics a single short telomere in quiescent fission yeast cells. We show that telomerase is able to elongate this single short telomere during quiescence despite the binding of Ku to the proto-telomere. While Taz1 and Rap1 repress telomerase in vegetative cells, both shelterin proteins are required for efficient telomere extension in quiescent cells, underscoring a distinct mode of telomerase control. We further show that Rad3ATR and Tel1ATM are redundantly required for telomere elongation in quiescence through the phosphorylation of Ccq1 and that Rif1 and its associated-PP1 phosphatases negatively regulate telomerase activity by opposing Ccq1 phosphorylation. The distinct mode of telomerase regulation in quiescent fission yeast cells may be relevant to that in human stem and progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélina Vaurs
- CNRS, INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Marseille, F-13009, France
| | - Julien Audry
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kurt W Runge
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA,Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Vincent Géli
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Vincent Géli.
| | - Stéphane Coulon
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +33 4 86 97 74 07; Fax: +33 4 86 97 74 99;
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6
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Katayama M, Fukuda T, Kaneko T, Nakagawa Y, Tajima A, Naito M, Ohmaki H, Endo D, Asano M, Nagamine T, Nakaya Y, Saito K, Watanabe Y, Tani T, Inoue-Murayama M, Nakajima N, Onuma M. Induced pluripotent stem cells of endangered avian species. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1049. [PMID: 36280684 PMCID: PMC9592614 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03964-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of endangered avian-related species increase in Japan recently. The application of new technologies, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), may contribute to the recovery of the decreasing numbers of endangered animals and conservation of genetic resources. We established novel iPSCs from three endangered avian species (Okinawa rail, Japanese ptarmigan, and Blakiston’s fish owl) with seven reprogramming factors (M3O, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, Nanog, Lin28, and Klf2). The iPSCs are pluripotency markers and express pluripotency-related genes and differentiated into three germ layers in vivo and in vitro. These three endangered avian iPSCs displayed different cellular characteristics even though the same reprogramming factors use. Japanese ptarmigan-derived iPSCs have different biological characteristics from those observed in other avian-derived iPSCs. Japanese ptarmigan iPSCs contributed to chimeras part in chicken embryos. To the best of our knowledge, our findings provide the first evidence of the potential value of iPSCs as a resource for endangered avian species conservation. iPSCs from three endangered avian species (including Okinawa rail, Japanese ptarmigan, and Blakiston’s fish owl) are developed and characterized as a potential resource for their conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masafumi Katayama
- grid.140139.e0000 0001 0746 5933Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506 Japan
| | - Tomokazu Fukuda
- grid.411792.80000 0001 0018 0409Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Iwate University, 4-3-5 Ueda, Morioka, Iwate 020-8551 Japan
| | - Takehito Kaneko
- grid.411792.80000 0001 0018 0409Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Iwate University, 4-3-5 Ueda, Morioka, Iwate 020-8551 Japan
| | - Yuki Nakagawa
- grid.411792.80000 0001 0018 0409Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Iwate University, 4-3-5 Ueda, Morioka, Iwate 020-8551 Japan
| | - Atsushi Tajima
- grid.20515.330000 0001 2369 4728Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences/T-PIRC, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Ten-noh Dai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572 Japan
| | - Mitsuru Naito
- grid.410590.90000 0001 0699 0373National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, 2-1-2 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8602 Japan
| | - Hitomi Ohmaki
- grid.412658.c0000 0001 0674 6856School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582 Bunkyodai Midorimachi, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501 Japan
| | - Daiji Endo
- grid.412658.c0000 0001 0674 6856School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582 Bunkyodai Midorimachi, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501 Japan
| | - Makoto Asano
- grid.256342.40000 0004 0370 4927Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193 Japan
| | - Takashi Nagamine
- Okinawa Wildlife Federation, 308-7-205 Maehara, Uruma, Okinawa 904-2235 Japan
| | - Yumiko Nakaya
- Okinawa Wildlife Federation, 308-7-205 Maehara, Uruma, Okinawa 904-2235 Japan
| | - Keisuke Saito
- Institute for Raptor Biomedicine Japan (Kushiro Shitsugen Wildlife Center), 2-2101 Hokuto, Kushiro, Hokkaido 084-0922 Japan
| | - Yukiko Watanabe
- Institute for Raptor Biomedicine Japan (Kushiro Shitsugen Wildlife Center), 2-2101 Hokuto, Kushiro, Hokkaido 084-0922 Japan
| | - Tetsuya Tani
- grid.258622.90000 0004 1936 9967Department of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Nakamachi, Nara, 631-0052 Japan
| | - Miho Inoue-Murayama
- grid.258799.80000 0004 0372 2033Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, 2-24 Tanaka-Sekiden-Cho, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto 606-8203 Japan
| | - Nobuyoshi Nakajima
- grid.140139.e0000 0001 0746 5933Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506 Japan
| | - Manabu Onuma
- grid.140139.e0000 0001 0746 5933Biodiversity Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506 Japan ,grid.412658.c0000 0001 0674 6856School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582 Bunkyodai Midorimachi, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501 Japan
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7
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Robinson H, Ali SI, Diaz-Hernandez ME, Lopez-Gonzalez R. Telomere Attrition in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons From ALS/FTD-Related C9ORF72 Repeat Expansion Carriers. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:874323. [PMID: 35769259 PMCID: PMC9234284 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.874323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The GGGGCC (G4C2) repeat expansion in C9ORF72 is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Dysregulated DNA damage response and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been postulated as major drivers of toxicity in C9ORF72 pathogenesis. Telomeres are tandem-repeated nucleotide sequences that are located at the end of chromosomes and protect them from degradation. Interestingly, it has been established that telomeres are sensitive to ROS. Here, we analyzed telomere length in neurons and neural progenitor cells from several induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from control subjects and C9ORF72 repeat expansion carriers. We found an age-dependent decrease in telomere length in two-month-old iPSC-derived motor neurons from C9ORF72 carriers as compared to control subjects and a dysregulation in the protein levels of shelterin complex members TRF2 and POT1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley Robinson
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Sk Imran Ali
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Martha Elena Diaz-Hernandez
- Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, GA, United States
| | - Rodrigo Lopez-Gonzalez
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
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8
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Goumy C, Veronese L, Stamm R, Domas Q, Hadjab K, Gallot D, Laurichesse H, Delabaere A, Gouas L, Salaun G, Richard C, Vago P, Tchirkov A. Reduced telomere length in amniocytes: an early biomarker of abnormal fetal development? Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:2669-2677. [PMID: 35244708 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres protect chromosome ends and control cell division and senescence. During organogenesis, telomeres need to be long enough to ensure the cell proliferation necessary at this stage of development. Previous studies have shown that telomere shortening is associated with growth retardation and congenital malformations. However, these studies were performed in newborns or postnatally, and data on telomere length (TL) during the prenatal period are still very limited. We measured TL using quantitative PCR in amniotic fluid (AF) and chorionic villi (CV) samples from 69 control fetuses with normal ultrasound (52 AF and 17 CV) and 213 fetuses (165 AF and 48 CV) with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) or congenital malformations diagnosed by ultrasound. The samples were collected by amniocentesis at the gestational age of 25.0 ± 5.4 weeks and by CV biopsy at 18.1 ± 6.3 weeks. In neither sample type was TL influenced by gestational age or fetal sex. In AF, a comparison of abnormal versus normal fetuses showed a significant telomere shortening in cases of IUGR (reduction of 34%, P < 10-6), single (29%, P < 10-6) and multiple (44%, P < 10-6) malformations. Similar TL shortening was also observed in CV from abnormal fetuses but to a lesser extent (25%, P = 0.0002; 18%, P = 0.016; 20%, P = 0.004, respectively). Telomere shortening was more pronounced in cases of multiple congenital anomalies than in fetuses with a single malformation, suggesting a correlation between TL and the severity of fetal phenotype. Thus, TL measurement in fetal samples during pregnancy could provide a novel predictive marker of pathological development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Goumy
- Cytogénétique Médicale, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Estaing, F-63000, France.,INSERM U1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont Ferrand
| | - Lauren Veronese
- Cytogénétique Médicale, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Estaing, F-63000, France.,EA7453 CHELTER « Clonal Heterogeneity, Leukemic environment, Therapy resistance of chronic leukemias », Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont Ferrand
| | - Rodrigue Stamm
- Cytogénétique Médicale, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Estaing, F-63000, France
| | - Quentin Domas
- Cytogénétique Médicale, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Estaing, F-63000, France
| | - Kamil Hadjab
- Cytogénétique Médicale, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Estaing, F-63000, France
| | - Denis Gallot
- Unité de Médecine Fœtale, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Estaing, F-63000, France
| | - Hélène Laurichesse
- Unité de Médecine Fœtale, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Estaing, F-63000, France
| | - Amélie Delabaere
- Unité de Médecine Fœtale, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Estaing, F-63000, France
| | - Laetitia Gouas
- Cytogénétique Médicale, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Estaing, F-63000, France.,INSERM U1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont Ferrand
| | - Gaelle Salaun
- Cytogénétique Médicale, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Estaing, F-63000, France.,INSERM U1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont Ferrand
| | - Céline Richard
- Cytogénétique Médicale, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Estaing, F-63000, France
| | - Philippe Vago
- Cytogénétique Médicale, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Estaing, F-63000, France.,INSERM U1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont Ferrand
| | - Andrei Tchirkov
- Cytogénétique Médicale, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Estaing, F-63000, France.,EA7453 CHELTER « Clonal Heterogeneity, Leukemic environment, Therapy resistance of chronic leukemias », Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont Ferrand
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9
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Lynes MD, Carlone DL, Townsend KL, Breault DT, Tseng YH. Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Expression Marks a Population of Rare Adipose Tissue Stem Cells. Stem Cells 2022; 40:102-111. [PMID: 35511869 PMCID: PMC9199842 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxab005] [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: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
In adult tissues such as adipose tissue, post-mitotic cells like adipocytes can be replaced by differentiation of a population of tissue-resident stem cells. Expression of mouse telomerase reverse transcriptase (mTert) is a hallmark of stem cell populations, and previous efforts to identify tissue-resident adult stem cells by measuring mTert expression have increased our understanding of stem cell biology significantly. Here, we used a doxycycline-inducible mouse model to perform longitudinal, live-animal lineage-tracing of mTert-expressing cells for more than 1 year. We identified a rare (<2%) population of stem cells in different fat depots that express putative preadipocyte markers. The adipose-derived mTert-positive cells are capable of self-renewal and possess adipogenic potential. Finally, we demonstrate that high-fat diet (HFD) can initiate differentiation of these cells in vivo. These data identify a population of adipose stem cells that contribute to the depot-specific response to HFD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Lynes
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Scarborough, ME, USA,Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA,Matthew D. Lynes, PhD, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, 81 Research Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA. Tel: 207-396-8100;
| | - Diana L Carlone
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA,Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristy L Townsend
- Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - David T Breault
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA,Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yu-Hua Tseng
- Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA,Corresponding author: Yu-Hua Tseng, PhD, Joslin Diabetes Center, One Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215, USA. Tel: 617-309-1967;
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10
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Analysis of telomere length variation and Shelterin complex subunit gene expression changes in ethanol-exposed human embryonic stem cells. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 143:543-549. [PMID: 33243459 PMCID: PMC8126580 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres protect chromosome ends from degradation. Telomere length (TL) can be altered by aging and environmental stress. Shortened TL has been observed in peripheral blood leukocytes of alcohol dependent subjects and ethanol-exposed somatic cells. To understand the impact of ethanol on telomeres in pluripotent stem cells, we investigated the influence of ethanol on TL and the expression of six Shelterin complex subunit or telomere-regulating genes (POT1, RAP1, TIN2, TPP1, TRF1, and TRF2) in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), which were exposed to 0, 25, 50, or 100 mM of ethanol for 3, 7, or 14 days. Ethanol-induced TL and Shelterin complex subunit gene expression changes were examined by quantitative polymerase chain reactions. Two-way ANOVA tests indicated that TL variation and expression changes of four associated Shelterin complex subunit genes (POT1, TPP1, TIN2, and TRF2) were mainly dependent on the length of ethanol exposure, while TRF1 and RAP1expression was influenced by ethanol concentration, exposure time, and the interaction of ethanol concentration and exposure time. Tukey's multiple comparison tests showed that TL and the expression of POT1, RAP1, TIN2, TPP1, and TRF1 were decreased after a 7-day (versus a 3-day) ethanol exposure. However, the decreased expression of all six Shelterin complex subunit genes was recovered and TL was not further shortened after a 14-day (versus a 7-day) ethanol exposure, likely due to the adaptation of hESCs to ethanol-induced stress. Our study provided further evidence that TL is regulated and maintained by telomere-regulating genes in stem cells under ethanol stress.
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11
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Epigenetic features in regulation of telomeres and telomerase in stem cells. Emerg Top Life Sci 2021; 5:497-505. [PMID: 34486664 DOI: 10.1042/etls20200344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The epigenetic nature of telomeres is still controversial and different human cell lines might show diverse histone marks at telomeres. Epigenetic modifications regulate telomere length and telomerase activity that influence telomere structure and maintenance. Telomerase is responsible for telomere elongation and maintenance and is minimally composed of the catalytic protein component, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and template forming RNA component, telomerase RNA (TERC). TERT promoter mutations may underpin some telomerase activation but regulation of the gene is not completely understood due to the complex interplay of epigenetic, transcriptional, and posttranscriptional modifications. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can maintain an indefinite, immortal, proliferation potential through their endogenous telomerase activity, maintenance of telomere length, and a bypass of replicative senescence in vitro. Differentiation of PSCs results in silencing of the TERT gene and an overall reversion to a mortal, somatic cell phenotype. The precise mechanisms for this controlled transcriptional silencing are complex. Promoter methylation has been suggested to be associated with epigenetic control of telomerase regulation which presents an important prospect for understanding cancer and stem cell biology. Control of down-regulation of telomerase during differentiation of PSCs provides a convenient model for the study of its endogenous regulation. Telomerase reactivation has the potential to reverse tissue degeneration, drive repair, and form a component of future tissue engineering strategies. Taken together it becomes clear that PSCs provide a unique system to understand telomerase regulation fully and drive this knowledge forward into aging and therapeutic application.
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12
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Establishing an immunocompromised porcine model of human cancer for novel therapy development with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and irreversible electroporation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7584. [PMID: 33828203 PMCID: PMC8027815 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87228-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
New therapies to treat pancreatic cancer are direly needed. However, efficacious interventions lack a strong preclinical model that can recapitulate patients’ anatomy and physiology. Likewise, the availability of human primary malignant tissue for ex vivo studies is limited. These are significant limitations in the biomedical device field. We have developed RAG2/IL2RG deficient pigs using CRISPR/Cas9 as a large animal model with the novel application of cancer xenograft studies of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In this proof-of-concept study, these pigs were successfully generated using on-demand genetic modifications in embryos, circumventing the need for breeding and husbandry. Human Panc01 cells injected subcutaneously into the ears of RAG2/IL2RG deficient pigs demonstrated 100% engraftment with growth rates similar to those typically observed in mouse models. Histopathology revealed no immune cell infiltration and tumor morphology was highly consistent with the mouse models. The electrical properties and response to irreversible electroporation of the tumor tissue were found to be similar to excised human pancreatic cancer tumors. The ample tumor tissue produced enabled improved accuracy and modeling of the electrical properties of tumor tissue. Together, this suggests that this model will be useful and capable of bridging the gap of translating therapies from the bench to clinical application.
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13
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Behrooz AB, Syahir A. Could We Address the Interplay Between CD133, Wnt/β-Catenin, and TERT Signaling Pathways as a Potential Target for Glioblastoma Therapy? Front Oncol 2021; 11:642719. [PMID: 33869033 PMCID: PMC8047678 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.642719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most lethal forms of primary brain tumors. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) play an undeniable role in tumor development by activating multiple signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K/AKT/mTOR that facilitate brain tumor formation. CD133, a transmembrane glycoprotein, has been used to classify cancer stem cells (CSCs) in GBM. The therapeutic value of CD133 is a biomarker of the CSC in multiple cancers. It also leads to growth and recurrence of the tumor. More recent findings have confirmed the association of telomerase/TERT with Wnt/β-catenin and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. Advance studies have shown that crosstalk between CD133, Wnt/β-catenin, and telomerase/TERT can facilitate GBM stemness and lead to therapeutic resistance. Mechanistic insight into signaling mechanisms downstream of surface biomarkers has been revolutionized by facilitating targeting of tumor-specific molecular deregulation. This review also addresses the importance of interplay between CD133, Wnt/β-catenin and TERT signaling pathways in GSCs and outlines the future therapeutic goals for glioblastoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Barzegar Behrooz
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Amir Syahir
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
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14
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Guterres AN, Villanueva J. Targeting telomerase for cancer therapy. Oncogene 2020; 39:5811-5824. [PMID: 32733068 PMCID: PMC7678952 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01405-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Telomere maintenance via telomerase reactivation is a nearly universal hallmark of cancer cells which enables replicative immortality. In contrast, telomerase activity is silenced in most adult somatic cells. Thus, telomerase represents an attractive target for highly selective cancer therapeutics. However, development of telomerase inhibitors has been challenging and thus far there are no clinically approved strategies exploiting this cancer target. The discovery of prevalent mutations in the TERT promoter region in many cancers and recent advances in telomerase biology has led to a renewed interest in targeting this enzyme. Here we discuss recent efforts targeting telomerase, including immunotherapies and direct telomerase inhibitors, as well as emerging approaches such as targeting TERT gene expression driven by TERT promoter mutations. We also address some of the challenges to telomerase-directed therapies including potential therapeutic resistance and considerations for future therapeutic applications and translation into the clinical setting. Although much work remains to be done, effective strategies targeting telomerase will have a transformative impact for cancer therapy and the prospect of clinically effective drugs is boosted by recent advances in structural models of human telomerase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam N Guterres
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jessie Villanueva
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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15
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Ogłuszka M, te Pas MFW, Poławska E, Nawrocka A, Stepanow K, Pierzchała M. Omega-3 Alpha-Linolenic Fatty Acid Affects the Level of Telomere Binding Protein TRF1 in Porcine Skeletal Muscle. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10061090. [PMID: 32599751 PMCID: PMC7341232 DOI: 10.3390/ani10061090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Omega-3 fatty acids are health-promoting nutrients that contribute to the amelioration of age-related diseases. Recent studies have reported the role of these fatty acids in the aging process, explicitly impacting telomere biology. The shelterin protein complex, located at the extremities of chromosomes, ensures telomere protection and length regulation. Here, we analyzed the impact of dietary omega-3 alpha-linolenic fatty acid from linseed oil on skeletal muscle telomere biology using an animal model of female pigs. Fifteen animals were supplemented with linseed oil for nine weeks and an equal number of individuals were fed with a control diet. Linseed-oil-supplemented animals showed an increased level of alpha-linolenic acid in skeletal muscles compared to control animals. There was no difference between groups in the telomere length measured in leukocytes and muscles. However, muscles of the linseed-oil-supplemented pigs showed lower levels of the shelterin TRF1 protein compared to the control group. Our results suggest that omega-3 linolenic acid counteracts the elevation of TRF1 levels, which increase with age and due to the presence of reactive oxygen species in muscle. The observed effect may be due to attenuation of oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Ogłuszka
- Department of Genomics and Biodiversity, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Jastrzębiec, Poland; (E.P.); (A.N.); (K.S.); (M.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Marinus F. W. te Pas
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen UR Livestock Research, 6700AH Wageningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Ewa Poławska
- Department of Genomics and Biodiversity, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Jastrzębiec, Poland; (E.P.); (A.N.); (K.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Agata Nawrocka
- Department of Genomics and Biodiversity, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Jastrzębiec, Poland; (E.P.); (A.N.); (K.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Kamila Stepanow
- Department of Genomics and Biodiversity, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Jastrzębiec, Poland; (E.P.); (A.N.); (K.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Mariusz Pierzchała
- Department of Genomics and Biodiversity, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Jastrzębiec, Poland; (E.P.); (A.N.); (K.S.); (M.P.)
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16
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Whittemore K, Derevyanko A, Martinez P, Serrano R, Pumarola M, Bosch F, Blasco MA. Telomerase gene therapy ameliorates the effects of neurodegeneration associated to short telomeres in mice. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 11:2916-2948. [PMID: 31140977 PMCID: PMC6555470 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases associated with old age such as Alzheimer’s disease present major problems for society, and they currently have no cure. The telomere protective caps at the ends of chromosomes shorten with age, and when they become critically short, they can induce a persistent DNA damage response at chromosome ends, triggering secondary cellular responses such as cell death and cellular senescence. Mice and humans with very short telomeres owing to telomerase deficiencies have an earlier onset of pathologies associated with loss of the regenerative capacity of tissues. However, the effects of short telomeres in very low proliferative tissues such as the brain have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we describe a mouse model of neurodegeneration owing to presence of short telomeres in the brain as the consequence of telomerase deficiency. Interestingly, we find similar signs of neurodegeneration in very old mice as the consequence of physiological mouse aging. Next, we demonstrate that delivery of telomerase gene therapy to the brain of these mice results in amelioration of some of these neurodegeneration phenotypes. These findings suggest that short telomeres contribute to neurodegeneration diseases with aging and that telomerase activation may have a therapeutic value in these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt Whittemore
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Aksinya Derevyanko
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Paula Martinez
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Rosa Serrano
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Martí Pumarola
- Unit of Murine and Comparative Pathology (UPMiC), Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain.,Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fàtima Bosch
- Center of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain.,Center of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Maria A Blasco
- Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO), Madrid 28029, Spain
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17
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Nemirovich-Danchenko NM, Khodanovich MY. Telomerase Gene Editing in the Neural Stem Cells in vivo as a Possible New Approach against Brain Aging. RUSS J GENET+ 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795420040092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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18
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Ségal-Bendirdjian E, Geli V. Non-canonical Roles of Telomerase: Unraveling the Imbroglio. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:332. [PMID: 31911897 PMCID: PMC6914764 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase plays a critical role in stem cell function and tissue regeneration that depends on its ability to elongate telomeres. For nearly two decades, it turned out that TERT regulates a broad spectrum of functions including signal transduction, gene expression regulation, and protection against oxidative damage that are independent of its telomere elongation activity. These conclusions that were mainly obtained in cell lines overexpressing telomerase were further strengthened by in vivo models of ectopic expression of telomerase or models of G1 TERT knockout mice without detectable telomere dysfunction. However, the later models were questioned due to the presence of aberrantly shortened telomere in the germline of the parents TERT+/- that were used to create the G1 TERT -/- mice. The physiological relevance of the functions associated with overexpressed telomerase raised also some concerns due to artifactual situations and localizations and complications to quantify the level of TERT. Another concern with non-canonical functions of TERT was the difficulty to separate a direct TERT-related function from secondary effects. Despite these concerns, more and more evidence accumulates for non-canonical roles of telomerase that are non-obligatory extra-telomeric. Here, we review these non-canonical roles of the TERT subunit of telomerase. Also, we emphasize recent results that link TERT to mitochondria and protection to reactive oxygen species suggesting a protective role of TERT in neurons. Throughout this review, we dissect some controversies regarding the non-canonical functions of telomerase and provide some insights to explain these discrepancies. Finally, we discuss the importance of understanding these alternative functions of telomerase for the development of anticancer strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyne Ségal-Bendirdjian
- INSERM UMR-S 1124, Team: Cellular Homeostasis, Cancer and Therapies, INSERM US36, CNRS UMS 2009, BioMedTech Facilities, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Geli
- Marseille Cancer Research Center, U1068 INSERM, UMR 7258 CNRS, Aix Marseille University, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Equipe labellisée Ligue, Marseille, France
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19
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Sándor S, Kubinyi E. Genetic Pathways of Aging and Their Relevance in the Dog as a Natural Model of Human Aging. Front Genet 2019; 10:948. [PMID: 31681409 PMCID: PMC6813227 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging research has experienced a burst of scientific efforts in the last decades as the growing ratio of elderly people has begun to pose an increased burden on the healthcare and pension systems of developed countries. Although many breakthroughs have been reported in understanding the cellular mechanisms of aging, the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute to senescence on higher biological levels are still barely understood. The dog, Canis familiaris, has already served as a valuable model of human physiology and disease. The possible role the dog could play in aging research is still an open question, although utilization of dogs may hold great promises as they naturally develop age-related cognitive decline, with behavioral and histological characteristics very similar to those of humans. In this regard, family dogs may possess unmatched potentials as models for investigations on the complex interactions between environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors that determine the course of aging. In this review, we summarize the known genetic pathways in aging and their relevance in dogs, putting emphasis on the yet barely described nature of certain aging pathways in canines. Reasons for highlighting the dog as a future aging and gerontology model are also discussed, ranging from its unique evolutionary path shared with humans, its social skills, and the fact that family dogs live together with their owners, and are being exposed to the same environmental effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sára Sándor
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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20
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Günes C, Wezel F, Southgate J, Bolenz C. Implications of TERT promoter mutations and telomerase activity in urothelial carcinogenesis. Nat Rev Urol 2019; 15:386-393. [PMID: 29599449 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-018-0001-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Telomerase activity imparts eukaryotic cells with unlimited proliferation capacity, one of the cancer hallmarks. Over 90% of human urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) tumours are positive for telomerase activity. Telomerase activation can occur through several mechanisms. Mutations in the core promoter region of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (TERT) cause telomerase reactivation in 60-80% of UCBs, whereas the prevalence of these mutations is lower in urothelial cancers of other origins. TERT promoter mutations are the most frequent genetic alteration across all stages of UCB, indicating a strong selection pressure during neoplastic transformation. TERT promoter mutations could arise during regeneration of normal urothelium and, owing to consequential telomerase reactivation, might be the basis of UCB initiation, which represents a new model of urothelial cancer origination. In the future, TERT promoter mutations and telomerase activity might have diagnostic and therapeutic applications in UCB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cagatay Günes
- Department of Urology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Felix Wezel
- Department of Urology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jennifer Southgate
- Department of Biology, Jack Birch Unit of Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of York, York, UK
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21
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Das MK, Kleppa L, Haugen TB. Functions of genes related to testicular germ cell tumour development. Andrology 2019; 7:527-535. [DOI: 10.1111/andr.12663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. K. Das
- Faculty of Health Sciences; OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University; Oslo Norway
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine; University of Oslo; Oslo Norway
| | - L. Kleppa
- Faculty of Health Sciences; OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University; Oslo Norway
| | - T. B. Haugen
- Faculty of Health Sciences; OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University; Oslo Norway
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22
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Abstract
Telomeres are specialised structures at the end of linear chromosomes. They consist of tandem repeats of the hexanucleotide sequence TTAGGG, as well as a protein complex called shelterin. Together, they form a protective loop structure against chromosome fusion and degradation. Shortening or damage to telomeres and opening of the loop induce an uncapped state that triggers a DNA damage response resulting in senescence or apoptosis.Average telomere length, usually measured in human blood lymphocytes, was thought to be a biomarker for ageing, survival and mortality. However, it becomes obvious that regulation of telomere length is very complex and involves multiple processes. For example, the "end replication problem" during DNA replication as well as oxidative stress are responsible for the shortening of telomeres. In contrast, telomerase activity can potentially counteract telomere shortening when it is able to access and interact with telomeres. However, while highly active during development and in cancer cells, the enzyme is down-regulated in most human somatic cells with a few exceptions such as human lymphocytes. In addition, telomeres can be transcribed, and the transcription products called TERRA are involved in telomere length regulation.Thus, telomere length and their integrity are regulated at many different levels, and we only start to understand this process under conditions of increased oxidative stress, inflammation and during diseases as well as the ageing process.This chapter aims to describe our current state of knowledge on telomeres and telomerase and their regulation in order to better understand their role for the ageing process.
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23
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Liang C, Wang Y, Wang Y, Chen X, Guo H. Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene from Greasyback Shrimp Metapenaeus ensis: Isolation, Genomic Organization and Expression Pattern Analysis. Zoolog Sci 2019; 34:419-428. [PMID: 28990474 DOI: 10.2108/zs160130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), a catalytic subunit of telomerase, plays a key role in the activity and biological functions of telomerase. In the present study we isolated and characterized the full-length cDNA and DNA sequences of the TERT gene (MeTERT) from Metapenaeus ensis. MeTERT cDNA was 4239 bp in length, which consisted of a 369 bp 5'UTR, a 3231 bp open reading frame encoding 1076 amino acids, and a 639 bp 3'UTR. The genomic DNA of MeTERT had only two introns, similar to beetle (two introns) and silkworm (intronless). The MeTERT protein showed only 5.2-7.9% identity with other known TERTs but contained all the four primary TERT domains of the N-terminal TEN, RNA binding domain (TRBD), reverse transcriptase (RT) and C-terminus CTE. Expression pattern analysis by RT-qPCR showed that, the MeTERT mRNA transcripts could be detected in all the tested samples, with relatively higher expression level in the gill, mysis, Oka organ and egg, but lower level in muscle, ovary, in vitro cultured 3-d Oka organ cells and heart. The significant decrease of MeTERT expression in the in vitro cultured 3-d Oka organ primary cells compared with their source tissue of Oka organ may have contributed to the cellular mitosisarrest. Thus trans-activation of TERT gene may be a candidate in attempts to immortalize in vitro cultured shrimp cells. This work will lay a solid foundation for future studies of the biological functions of telomerase in crustaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuicui Liang
- 1 Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.,2 Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Yuhao Wang
- 3 Qingdao No.2 Middle School of Shandong Province, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Yujie Wang
- 3 Qingdao No.2 Middle School of Shandong Province, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Xuemei Chen
- 1 Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.,2 Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Huarong Guo
- 1 Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.,2 Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
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24
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Friemel J, Frick L, Unger K, Egger M, Parrotta R, Böge YT, Adili A, Karin M, Luedde T, Heikenwalder M, Weber A. Characterization of HCC Mouse Models: Towards an Etiology-Oriented Subtyping Approach. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 17:1493-1502. [PMID: 30967480 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-18-1045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Murine liver tumors often fail to recapitulate the complexity of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which might explain the difficulty to translate preclinical mouse studies into clinical science. The aim of this study was to evaluate a subtyping approach for murine liver cancer models with regard to etiology-defined categories of human HCC, comparing genomic changes, histomorphology, and IHC profiles. Sequencing and analysis of gene copy-number changes [by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH)] in comparison with etiology-dependent subsets of HCC patients of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were conducted using specimens (75 tumors) of five different HCC mouse models: diethylnitrosamine (DEN) treated wild-type C57BL/6 mice, c-Myc and AlbLTαβ transgenic mice as well as TAK1LPC-KO and Mcl-1Δhep mice. Digital microscopy was used for the assessment of morphology and IHC of liver cell markers (A6-CK7/19, glutamine synthetase) in mouse and n = 61 human liver tumors. Tumor CGH profiles of DEN-treated mice and c-Myc transgenic mice matched alcohol-induced HCC, including morphologic findings (abundant inclusion bodies, fatty change) in the DEN model. Tumors from AlbLTαβ transgenic mice and TAK1LPC-KO models revealed the highest overlap with NASH-HCC CGH profiles. Concordant morphology (steatosis, lymphocyte infiltration, intratumor heterogeneity) was found in AlbLTαβ murine livers. CGH profiles from the Mcl-1Δhep model displayed similarities with hepatitis-induced HCC and characteristic human-like phenotypes (fatty change, intertumor and intratumor heterogeneity). IMPLICATIONS: Our findings demonstrate that stratifying preclinical mouse models along etiology-oriented genotypes and human-like phenotypes is feasible. This closer resemblance of preclinical models is expected to better recapitulate HCC subgroups and thus increase their informative value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Friemel
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Frick
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Swiss Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Department of Digestive and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kristian Unger
- Helmholtz Zentrum München Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Research Unit Radiation Cytogenetics
| | - Michele Egger
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rossella Parrotta
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yannick T Böge
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Arlind Adili
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Karin
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Tom Luedde
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mathias Heikenwalder
- Division Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Achim Weber
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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25
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Liu MY, Nemes A, Zhou QG. The Emerging Roles for Telomerase in the Central Nervous System. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:160. [PMID: 29867352 PMCID: PMC5964194 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase, a specialized ribonucleoprotein enzyme complex, maintains telomere length at the 3′ end of chromosomes, and functions importantly in stem cells, cancer and aging. Telomerase exists in neural stem cells (NSCs) and neural progenitor cells (NPCs), at a high level in the developing and adult brains of humans and rodents. Increasing studies have demonstrated that telomerase in NSCs/NPCs plays important roles in cell proliferation, neuronal differentiation, neuronal survival and neuritogenesis. In addition, recent works have shown that telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) can protect newborn neurons from apoptosis and excitotoxicity. However, to date, the link between telomerase and diseases in the central nervous system (CNS) is not well reviewed. Here, we analyze the evidence and summarize the important roles of telomerase in the CNS. Understanding the roles of telomerase in the nervous system is not only important to gain further insight into the process of the neural cell life cycle but would also provide novel therapeutic applications in CNS diseases such as neurodegenerative condition, mood disorders, aging and other ailments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Ying Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Ashley Nemes
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Qi-Gang Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
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26
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Abdelmegeed SM, Mohammed S. Canine mammary tumors as a model for human disease. Oncol Lett 2018; 15:8195-8205. [PMID: 29928319 PMCID: PMC6004712 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models for examining human breast cancer (HBC) carcinogenesis have been extensively studied and proposed. With the recent advent of immunotherapy, significant attention has been focused on the dog as a model for human cancer. Dogs develop mammary tumors and other cancer types spontaneously with an intact immune system, which exhibit a number of clinical and molecular similarities to HBC. In addition to the spontaneous tumor presentation, the clinical similarities between human and canine mammary tumors (CMT) include the age at onset, hormonal etiology and course of the diseases. Furthermore, factors that affect the disease outcome, including tumor size, stage and lymph node invasion, are similar in HBC and CMT. Similarly, the molecular characteristics of steroid receptor, epidermal growth factor, proliferation marker, metalloproteinase and cyclooxygenase expression, and the mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in CMT, mimic HBC. Furthermore, ductal carcinomas in situ in human and canine mammary glands are particularly similar in their pathological, molecular and visual characteristics. These CMT characteristics and their similarities to HBC indicate that the dog could be an excellent model for the study of human disease. These similarities are discussed in detail in the present review, and are compared with the in vitro and other in vivo animal models available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somaia M Abdelmegeed
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Sulma Mohammed
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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27
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Current Perspectives of Telomerase Structure and Function in Eukaryotes with Emerging Views on Telomerase in Human Parasites. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19020333. [PMID: 29364142 PMCID: PMC5855555 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Replicative capacity of a cell is strongly correlated with telomere length regulation. Aberrant lengthening or reduction in the length of telomeres can lead to health anomalies, such as cancer or premature aging. Telomerase is a master regulator for maintaining replicative potential in most eukaryotic cells. It does so by controlling telomere length at chromosome ends. Akin to cancer cells, most single-cell eukaryotic pathogens are highly proliferative and require persistent telomerase activity to maintain constant length of telomere and propagation within their host. Although telomerase is key to unlimited cellular proliferation in both cases, not much was known about the role of telomerase in human parasites (malaria, Trypanosoma, etc.) until recently. Since telomerase regulation is mediated via its own structural components, interactions with catalytic reverse transcriptase and several factors that can recruit and assemble telomerase to telomeres in a cell cycle-dependent manner, we compare and discuss here recent findings in telomerase biology in cancer, aging and parasitic diseases to give a broader perspective of telomerase function in human diseases.
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28
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Mazumdar J, Chowdhury P, Bhattacharya T, Mondal BC, Ghosh U. Patients with Congenital Limb Anomaly Show Short Telomere, Shutdown of Telomerase and Deregulated Expression of Various Telomere-Associated Proteins in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells-A Case Series. J Clin Diagn Res 2017; 11:GR01-GR06. [PMID: 28969156 DOI: 10.7860/jcdr/2017/26960.10516] [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: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Congenital limb anomalies are outcome of improper bone formation during embryonic development when cells divide, differentiate with high rate. So, telomerase activity is essential to maintain telomere length for such highly dividing cells. Here, we report four cases of congenital limb anomalies with detailed structures of limbs along with other clinical manifestations of age less than two years. We compared telomere length, expression of telomerase and telomere-associated genes of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) in patient and four age-matched normal individual. Patient-1 was diagnosed with congenital limb hypogenesis ectrodactyly sequence, an autosomal dominant disorder, showing absence of digits and fibula in upper and lower limb respectively. Both mother and grandmother of Patient-1 showed similar hypogenesis of limbs. Patient-2 showed bilateral clenched hand with arthrogryposis, microcephaly and holoprosencephaly. Both Patient-3 and Patient-4 has no radius in upper limb. Additionally, Paient-3 showed right sided orbital Space Occupying Lesion (SOL) and Paranasal Sinuses (PNS) whereas Patient-4 showed fused kidney with fanconi anaemia. Furthermore, all the patients showed shorter telomere length, inactive telomerase and de-regulated expression of telomere-associated proteins in PBMC compared with age-matched control group. So, we can conclude that congenital limb anomalies may be linked with telomeropathy and a study with large number of samples is required to firmly establish such association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayitri Mazumdar
- Senior Resident, Department of Paediatrics, Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Priyanka Chowdhury
- Resaerch Scholar, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India
| | - Tunisha Bhattacharya
- RMO Cum Clinical Tutor, Department of Paediatrics, Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Badal Chandra Mondal
- Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Murshidabad Medical College, Berhampore, West Bengal, India
| | - Utpal Ghosh
- Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India
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29
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Lai AG, Pouchkina-Stantcheva N, Di Donfrancesco A, Kildisiute G, Sahu S, Aboobaker AA. The protein subunit of telomerase displays patterns of dynamic evolution and conservation across different metazoan taxa. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:107. [PMID: 28441946 PMCID: PMC5405514 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-0949-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most animals employ telomerase, which consists of a catalytic subunit known as the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and an RNA template, to maintain telomere ends. Given the importance of TERT and telomere biology in core metazoan life history traits, like ageing and the control of somatic cell proliferation, we hypothesised that TERT would have patterns of sequence and regulatory evolution reflecting the diverse life histories across the Animal Kingdom. RESULTS We performed a complete investigation of the evolutionary history of TERT across animals. We show that although TERT is almost ubiquitous across Metazoa, it has undergone substantial sequence evolution within canonical motifs. Beyond the known canonical motifs, we also identify and compare regions that are highly variable between lineages, but show conservation within phyla. Recent data have highlighted the importance of alternative splice forms of TERT in non-canonical functions and although animals may share some conserved introns, we find that the selection of exons for alternative splicing appears to be highly variable, and regulation by alternative splicing appears to be a very dynamic feature of TERT evolution. We show that even within a closely related group of triclad flatworms, where alternative splicing of TERT was previously correlated with reproductive strategy, we observe highly diverse splicing patterns. CONCLUSIONS Our work establishes that the evolutionary history and structural evolution of TERT involves previously unappreciated levels of change and the emergence of lineage specific motifs. The sequence conservation we describe within phyla suggests that these new motifs likely serve essential biological functions of TERT, which along with changes in splicing, underpin diverse functions of TERT important for animal life histories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvina G Lai
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
| | | | | | - Gerda Kildisiute
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Sounak Sahu
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - A Aziz Aboobaker
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
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30
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da Costa JP, Vitorino R, Silva GM, Vogel C, Duarte AC, Rocha-Santos T. A synopsis on aging-Theories, mechanisms and future prospects. Ageing Res Rev 2016; 29:90-112. [PMID: 27353257 PMCID: PMC5991498 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2016.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Answering the question as to why we age is tantamount to answering the question of what is life itself. There are countless theories as to why and how we age, but, until recently, the very definition of aging - senescence - was still uncertain. Here, we summarize the main views of the different models of senescence, with a special emphasis on the biochemical processes that accompany aging. Though inherently complex, aging is characterized by numerous changes that take place at different levels of the biological hierarchy. We therefore explore some of the most relevant changes that take place during aging and, finally, we overview the current status of emergent aging therapies and what the future holds for this field of research. From this multi-dimensional approach, it becomes clear that an integrative approach that couples aging research with systems biology, capable of providing novel insights into how and why we age, is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Pinto da Costa
- CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Rui Vitorino
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Physiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Gustavo M Silva
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, NY, NY 10003, USA
| | - Christine Vogel
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, NY, NY 10003, USA
| | - Armando C Duarte
- CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Teresa Rocha-Santos
- CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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31
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Inhibition of telomerase causes vulnerability to endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced neuronal cell death. Neurosci Lett 2016; 629:241-244. [PMID: 27443785 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is implicated in several diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we investigated the possible involvement of telomerase in ER stress-induced cell death. ER stress-induced cell death was ameliorated in telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) over-expressing MCF7 cells (MCF7-TERT cell). Telomerase specific inhibitor, BIBR1532, reversed the inhibitory effect of TERT on ER stress-induced cell death in MCF7-TERT cells. These findings suggest that BIBR1532 may specifically inhibit telomerase activity, thereby inducing cell death in ER stress-exposed cells. TERT was expressed in the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. To analyze the possible involvement of telomerase in ER stress-induced neuronal cell death, we treated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with BIBR1532 and analyzed ER stress-induced cell death. We found that BIBR1532 significantly enhanced the ER stress-induced neuronal cell death. These findings suggest that inhibition of telomerase activity may enhance vulnerability to neuronal cell death caused by ER stress.
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32
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Zhang F, Cheng D, Wang S, Zhu J. Human Specific Regulation of the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene. Genes (Basel) 2016; 7:genes7070030. [PMID: 27367732 PMCID: PMC4962000 DOI: 10.3390/genes7070030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase, regulated primarily by the transcription of its catalytic subunit telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), is critical for controlling cell proliferation and tissue homeostasis by maintaining telomere length. Although there is a high conservation between human and mouse TERT genes, the regulation of their transcription is significantly different in these two species. Whereas mTERT expression is widely detected in adult mice, hTERT is expressed at extremely low levels in most adult human tissues and cells. As a result, mice do not exhibit telomere-mediated replicative aging, but telomere shortening is a critical factor of human aging and its stabilization is essential for cancer development in humans. The chromatin environment and epigenetic modifications of the hTERT locus, the binding of transcriptional factors to its promoter, and recruitment of nucleosome modifying complexes all play essential roles in restricting its transcription in different cell types. In this review, we will discuss recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of TERT regulation in human and mouse tissues and cells, and during cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University College of Pharmacy, PO Box 1495, Spokane, WA 99210, USA.
| | - De Cheng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University College of Pharmacy, PO Box 1495, Spokane, WA 99210, USA.
| | - Shuwen Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University College of Pharmacy, PO Box 1495, Spokane, WA 99210, USA.
| | - Jiyue Zhu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University College of Pharmacy, PO Box 1495, Spokane, WA 99210, USA.
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33
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Hidema S, Fukuda T, Date S, Tokitake Y, Matsui Y, Sasaki H, Nishimori K. Transgenic expression of Telomerase reverse transcriptase (Tert) improves cell proliferation of primary cells and enhances reprogramming efficiency into the induced pluripotent stem cell. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2016; 80:1925-33. [PMID: 27297181 DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2016.1191330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The enzymatic activity of telomerase is important for the extension of the telomere repeat sequence and overcoming cellular senescence. We generated a conditional transgenic mouse line, carrying the telomerase reverse transcriptase (Tert) expression cassette, controlled by the Cre-loxP-mediated recombination. In our study, Cre recombinase expression efficiently activated Tert expression, resulting in its increased enzymatic activity, which extended the period of cellular proliferation until the keratinocytes entered senescence. This suggests that transgenic Tert expression is effective in enhancing primary cell proliferation. Notably, Tert expression increased colony formation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells after the introduction of four reprogramming factors, Oct-4, klf4, SOX-2, and c-Myc into the transgenic fibroblasts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the transgenic Tert expression enhances reprogramming efficiency of iPS cells, which indicates a critical role for Tert in the reprogramming process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizu Hidema
- a Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Tomokazu Fukuda
- a Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Shiori Date
- a Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Yuko Tokitake
- b Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Yasuhisa Matsui
- b Cell Resource Center for Biomedical Research, Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Hiroki Sasaki
- c Department of Translational Oncology , National Cancer Center Research Institute , Tokyo , Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Nishimori
- a Graduate School of Agricultural Science , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
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Jones M, Bisht K, Savage SA, Nandakumar J, Keegan CE, Maillard I. The shelterin complex and hematopoiesis. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:1621-9. [PMID: 27135879 DOI: 10.1172/jci84547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian chromosomes terminate in stretches of repetitive telomeric DNA that act as buffers to avoid loss of essential genetic information during end-replication. A multiprotein complex known as shelterin prevents recognition of telomeric sequences as sites of DNA damage. Telomere erosion contributes to human diseases ranging from BM failure to premature aging syndromes and cancer. The role of shelterin telomere protection is less understood. Mutations in genes encoding the shelterin proteins TRF1-interacting nuclear factor 2 (TIN2) and adrenocortical dysplasia homolog (ACD) were identified in dyskeratosis congenita, a syndrome characterized by somatic stem cell dysfunction in multiple organs leading to BM failure and other pleiotropic manifestations. Here, we introduce the biochemical features and in vivo effects of individual shelterin proteins, discuss shelterin functions in hematopoiesis, and review emerging knowledge implicating the shelterin complex in hematological disorders.
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35
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Rousseau P, Khondaker S, Zhu S, Lauzon C, Mai S, Autexier C. An intact putative mouse telomerase essential N-terminal domain is necessary for proper telomere maintenance. Biol Cell 2016; 108:96-112. [PMID: 26787169 DOI: 10.1111/boc.201500089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND INFORMATION Naturally occurring telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) isoforms may regulate telomerase activity, and possibly function independently of telomeres to modulate embryonic stem (ES) cell self-renewal and differentiation. RESULTS We report the characterisation of two novel mouse TERT (mTERT) splice variants, Ins-i1[1-102] (Insi1 for short) and Del-e12[1-40] (Dele12 for short) that have not been previously described. Insi1 represents an in-frame insertion of nucleotides 1-102 from intron 1, encoding a 34 amino acid insertion at amino acid 73. Based on known functions of this region in human and Tetrahymena TERTs, the insertion interrupts the RNA interaction domain 1 implicated in low-affinity RNA binding and the telomerase essential N-terminal domain implicated in DNA substrate interactions. Dele12 contains a 40 nucleotide deletion of exon 12 which generates a premature stop codon, and possible protein lacking the C-terminus. We found Insi1 expressed in adult mouse brain and kidney and Dele12 expressed in adult mouse ovary. Dele12 was inactive in vitro and in mTERT(-/-) ES cells and Insi1 retained 26-48% of telomerase activity reconstituted by wild-type mTERT in vitro and in mTERT(-/-) ES cells. The Insi1 variant exhibited reduced DNA substrate binding in vitro and both variants exhibited a reduction in binding the telomerase RNA, mTR, when expressed in mTERT(-/-) ES cells. Stable expression of Dele12 in the mouse fibroblast CB17 cell line inhibited telomerase activity and slowed cell growth, suggesting a potential dominant-negative effect. Levels of signal-free ends, representing short telomeres, and end-to-end fusions were higher in mTERT(-/-) ES cells expressing mTERT-Insi1 and mTERT-Dele12, compared with levels observed in mTERT(-/-) ES cells expressing wild-type mTERT. In addition, in mTERT(-/-) cells expressing mTERT-Insi1, we observed chromosomes that were products of repeated breakage-bridge-fusion cycles and other telomere dysfunction-related aberrations. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE An intact mTERT N-terminus which contributes to mTR binding, DNA binding and telomerase activity is necessary for elongation of short telomeres and the maintenance of functional telomeres. It is reasonable to speculate that relative levels of mTERT-Insi1 may regulate telomere function in specific tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Rousseau
- Bloomfield Center for Research in Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Shanjadia Khondaker
- Bloomfield Center for Research in Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1E2, Canada.,Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Shusen Zhu
- Bloomfield Center for Research in Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Catherine Lauzon
- Bloomfield Center for Research in Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Sabine Mai
- Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, R3E 0V9, Canada
| | - Chantal Autexier
- Bloomfield Center for Research in Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1E2, Canada.,Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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36
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Peterson DR, Mok HOL, Au DWT. Modulation of telomerase activity in fish muscle by biological and environmental factors. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2015; 178:51-59. [PMID: 26400776 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2015.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Telomerase expression has long been linked to promotion of tumor growth and cell proliferation in mammals. Interestingly, telomerase activity (TA) has been detected in skeletal muscle for a variety of fish species. Despite this being a unique feature in fish, very few studies have investigated the potential role of TA in muscle. The present study was set to prove the concepts that muscle telomerase in fish is related to body growth, and more specifically, to muscle cell proliferation and apoptosis in vivo. Moreover, muscle TA can be influenced by biotic factors and modulated by environmental stress. Using three fish species, mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus), orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides), and marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma), the present work reports for the first time that fish muscle TA was sensitive to the environmental stresses of starvation, foodborne exposure to benzo[a]pyrene, and hypoxia. In marine medaka, muscle TA was coupled with fish growth during early life stages. Upon sexual maturation, muscle TA was confounded by sex (female>male). Muscle TA was significantly correlated with telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) protein expression (Pearson correlation r=0.892; p≤0.05), which was coupled with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) cell proliferation, but not associated with apoptosis (omBax/omBcl2 ratio) in muscle tissue. The results reported here have bridged the knowledge gap between the existence and function of telomerase in fish muscle. The underlying regulatory mechanisms of muscle TA in fish warrant further exploration for comparison with telomerase regulation in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew Ryan Peterson
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Helen Oi Lam Mok
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Doris Wai Ting Au
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR; Shenzhen Key Laboratory for the Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity, Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China.
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37
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Thalmensi J, Pliquet E, Liard C, Escande M, Bestetti T, Julithe M, Kostrzak A, Pailhes-Jimenez AS, Bourges E, Loustau M, Caumartin J, Lachgar A, Huet T, Wain-Hobson S, Langlade-Demoyen P. Anticancer DNA vaccine based on human telomerase reverse transcriptase generates a strong and specific T cell immune response. Oncoimmunology 2015; 5:e1083670. [PMID: 27141336 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1083670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Revised: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is overexpressed in more than 85% of human cancers regardless of their cellular origin. As immunological tolerance to hTERT can be overcome not only spontaneously but also by vaccination, it represents a relevant universal tumor associated antigen (TAA). Indeed, hTERT specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) precursors are present within the peripheral T-cell repertoire. Consequently, hTERT vaccine represents an attractive candidate for antitumor immunotherapy. Here, an optimized DNA plasmid encoding an inactivated form of hTERT, named INVAC-1, was designed in order to trigger cellular immunity against tumors. Intradermal injection of INVAC-1 followed by electrogene transfer (EGT) in a variety of mouse models elicited broad hTERT specific cellular immune responses including high CD4+ Th1 effector and memory CD8+ T‑cells. Furthermore, therapeutic INVAC‑1 immunization in a HLA-A2 spontaneous and aggressive mouse sarcoma model slows tumor growth and increases survival rate of 50% of tumor-bearing mice. These results emphasize that INVAC-1 based immunotherapy represents a relevant cancer vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elodie Pliquet
- Invectys, Pasteur BioTop, Paris, France; Molecular Retrovirology Unit, CNRS-URA 3015, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Simon Wain-Hobson
- Invectys, Pasteur BioTop, Paris, France; Molecular Retrovirology Unit, CNRS-URA 3015, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Langlade-Demoyen
- Invectys, Pasteur BioTop, Paris, France; Molecular Retrovirology Unit, CNRS-URA 3015, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
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Targeting cryptic epitope with modified antigen coupled to the surface of liposomes induces strong antitumor CD8 T-cell immune responses in vivo. Oncol Rep 2015; 34:2827-36. [PMID: 26398429 PMCID: PMC4722887 DOI: 10.3892/or.2015.4299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Active cancer immunotherapy, such as cancer vaccine, is based on the fundamental knowledge that tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are presented on MHC molecules for recognition by specific T cells. However, most TAAs are self-antigens and are also expressed on normal tissues, including the thymus. This fact raises the issue of the tolerance of the TAA-specific T-cell repertoire and consequently the inability to trigger a strong and efficient antitumor immune response. In the present study, we used antigens chemically coupled to the surface of liposomes to target telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), a widely expressed self/tumor antigen. Taking advantage of the high homology between mouse and human TERT, we investigated immunogenicity and antitumor efficiency of the liposomal TERT peptides in HLA-A*0201 transgenic HHD mice. Using the heteroclitical peptide-modifying approach with antigen-coupled liposomes, we identified a novel cryptic epitope with low affinity for HLA*0201 molecules derived from TERT. The heteroclitical variant derived from this novel low affinity peptide exhibited strong affinity for HLA*0201 molecules. However, it induced only weak CD8 T-cell immune responses in HHD mice when emulsified in IFA. By contrast, when coupled to the surface of the liposomes, it induced powerful CD8 T-cell immune responses which cross-reacted against the original cryptic epitope. The induced CD8 T cells also recognized endogenously TERT-expressing tumor cells and inhibited their growth in HHD mice. These data suggest that heteroclitical antigen derived from low affinity epitope of tumor antigens coupled to the surface of liposome may have a role as an effective cancer vaccine candidate.
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Zhao X, Ueda Y, Kajigaya S, Alaks G, Desierto MJ, Townsley DM, Dumitriu B, Chen J, Lacy RC, Young NS. Cloning and molecular characterization of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomere length analysis of Peromyscus leucopus. Gene 2015; 568:8-18. [PMID: 25962353 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Revised: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is the catalytic subunit of telomerase complex that regulates telomerase activity to maintain telomere length for all animals with linear chromosomes. As the Mus musculus (MM) laboratory mouse has very long telomeres compared to humans, a potential alternative animal model for telomere research is the Peromyscus leucopus (PL) mouse that has telomere lengths close to the human range and has the wild counterparts for comparison. We report the full TERT coding sequence (pTERT) from PL mice to use in the telomere research. Comparative analysis with eight other mammalian TERTs revealed a pTERT protein considerably homologous to other TERTs and preserved all TERT specific-sequence signatures, yet with some distinctive features. pTERT displayed the highest nucleotide and amino acid sequence homology with hamster TERT. Unlike human but similar to MM mice, pTERT expression was detected in various adult somatic tissues of PL mice, with the highest expression in testes. Four different captive stocks of PL mice and wild-captured PL mice each displayed group-specific average telomere lengths, with the longest and shortest telomeres in inbred and outbred stock mice, respectively. pTERT showed considerable numbers of synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations. A pTERT proximal promoter region cloned was homologous among PL and MM mice and rat, but with species-specific features. From PL mice, we further cloned and characterized ribosomal protein, large, P0 (pRPLP0) to use as an internal control for various assays. Peromyscus mice have been extensively used for various studies, including human diseases, for which pTERT and pRPLP0 would be useful tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhao
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Yasutaka Ueda
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sachiko Kajigaya
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Glen Alaks
- Department of Conservation Science, Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, IL, USA
| | - Marie J Desierto
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Danielle M Townsley
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Bogdan Dumitriu
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jichun Chen
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Robert C Lacy
- Department of Conservation Science, Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, IL, USA
| | - Neal S Young
- Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Impaired telomerase activity hinders proliferation and in vitro transformation of Penaeus monodon lymphoid cells. Cytotechnology 2015; 68:1301-14. [PMID: 26084784 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-015-9890-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Retaining terminal transferase activity of telomerase, the ribonucleoprotein enzyme which add telomeric repeats on chromosome end is thought to be required to prevent cellular ageing. Additionally, telomerase considered as a marker for cell proliferation and immortalization in eukaryotes. We examined telomerase activity in tissues and lymphoid cell culture of Penaeus monodon. Along with telomerase activity, telomere repeats and an attempt on identification of telomerase reverse transcriptase (PmTERT) were made. Telomeric repeat amplification protocol revealed that telomerase-dependent telomeric lengthening has been taking place in P. monodon and the adult tissues were retaining this capacity throughout their lifespan with the highest activity in ovary, testis and lymphoid organ. However, telomerase activity could not be detected in lymphoid cells in culture. The canonical telomeric repeats added by telomerase of lymphoid tissue extract were identified as TTAGG, but pentameric repeats GGTTA and AGGTT were also added by the telomerase. PmTERT protein sequence (partial) shared 100 % identity with the TERT sequence of Daphnia pulex, 27 % sequence identity with Purple sea urchin and 24-25 % with Zebra fish. Undetectable telomerase activity in lymphoid cell culture supports the hypothesis that the inadequate telomerase activity or gene expression may be a reason that prevents neoplastic transformation and spontaneous immortalization of the cells in vitro. Thus, it is envisaged that telomerase activation in lymphoid cells may surmount cellular ageing for in vitro transformation and cell line establishment.
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Wei YB, Backlund L, Wegener G, Mathé AA, Lavebratt C. Telomerase dysregulation in the hippocampus of a rat model of depression: normalization by lithium. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 18:pyv002. [PMID: 25618407 PMCID: PMC4540104 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyv002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomeres are protective DNA-protein complexes at the ends of each chromosome, maintained primarily by the enzyme telomerase. Shortening of the blood leukocyte telomeres is associated with aging, several chronic diseases, and stress, eg, major depression. Hippocampus is pivotal in the regulation of cognition and mood and the main brain region of telomerase activity. Whether there is telomere dysfunction in the hippocampus of depressed subjects is unknown. Lithium, used in the treatment and relapse prevention of mood disorders, was found to protect against leukocyte telomere shortening in humans, but the mechanism has not been elucidated. To answer the questions whether telomeres are shortened and the telomerase activity changed in the hippocampus and whether lithium could reverse the process, we used a genetic model of depression, the Flinders Sensitive Line rat, and treated the animals with lithium. METHODS Telomere length, telomerase reverse transcriptase (Tert) expression, telomerase activity, and putative mediators of telomerase activity were investigated in the hippocampus of these animals. RESULTS The naïve Flinders Sensitive Line had shorter telomere length, downregulated Tert expression, reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, and reduced telomerase activity compared with the Flinders Resistant Line controls. Lithium treatment normalized the Tert expression and telomerase activity in the Flinders Sensitive Line and upregulated β-catenin. CONCLUSION This is the first report showing telomere dysregulation in hippocampus of a well-defined depression model and restorative effects of lithium treatment. If replicated in other models of mood disorder, the findings will contribute to understanding both the telomere function and the mechanism of lithium action in hippocampus of depressed patients.
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Tang M, Li Y, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Huang W, Wang D, Zaug AJ, Liu D, Zhao Y, Cech TR, Ma W, Songyang Z. Disease mutant analysis identifies a new function of DAXX in telomerase regulation and telomere maintenance. J Cell Sci 2014; 128:331-41. [PMID: 25416818 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.159467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Most human cancers depend on the telomerase to maintain telomeres; however, about 10% of cancers are telomerase negative and utilize the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism. Mutations in the DAXX gene have been found frequently in both telomerase-positive and ALT cells, and how DAXX mutations contribute to cancers remains unclear. We report here that endogenous DAXX can localize to Cajal bodies, associate with the telomerase and regulate telomerase targeting to telomeres. Furthermore, disease mutations that are located in different regions of DAXX differentially impact on its ability to interact with its binding partners and its targeting to Cajal bodies and telomeres. In addition, DAXX knockdown by RNA interference led to reduced telomerase targeting to telomeres and telomere shortening. These findings collectively support a DAXX-centric pathway for telomere maintenance, where DAXX interaction with the telomerase regulates telomerase assembly in Cajal bodies and telomerase targeting to telomeres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfan Tang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yujing Li
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Verna and Marrs Department of Biochemistry and Molecular biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yuxi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Wenjun Huang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Arthur J Zaug
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Dan Liu
- Verna and Marrs Department of Biochemistry and Molecular biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Thomas R Cech
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Wenbin Ma
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Zhou Songyang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education and State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China Verna and Marrs Department of Biochemistry and Molecular biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Wang J, Li J, Santana-Santos L, Shuda M, Sobol RW, Van Houten B, Qian W. A novel strategy for targeted killing of tumor cells: Induction of multipolar acentrosomal mitotic spindles with a quinazolinone derivative mdivi-1. Mol Oncol 2014; 9:488-502. [PMID: 25458053 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2014.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2014] [Revised: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditional antimitotic drugs for cancer chemotherapy often have undesired toxicities to healthy tissues, limiting their clinical application. Developing novel agents that specifically target tumor cell mitosis is needed to minimize the toxicity and improve the efficacy of this class of anticancer drugs. We discovered that mdivi-1 (mitochondrial division inhibitor-1), which was originally reported as an inhibitor of mitochondrial fission protein Drp1, specifically disrupts M phase cell cycle progression only in human tumor cells, but not in non-transformed fibroblasts or epithelial cells. The antimitotic effect of mdivi-1 is Drp1 independent, as mdivi-1 induces M phase abnormalities in both Drp1 wild-type and Drp1 knockout SV40-immortalized/transformed MEF cells. We also identified that the tumor transformation process required for the antimitotic effect of mdivi-1 is downstream of SV40 large T and small t antigens, but not hTERT-mediated immortalization. Mdivi-1 induces multipolar mitotic spindles in tumor cells regardless of their centrosome numbers. Acentrosomal spindle poles, which do not contain the bona-fide centrosome components γ-tubulin and centrin-2, were found to contribute to the spindle multipolarity induced by mdivi-1. Gene expression profiling revealed that the genes involved in oocyte meiosis and assembly of acentrosomal microtubules are highly expressed in tumor cells. We further identified that tumor cells have enhanced activity in the nucleation and assembly of acentrosomal kinetochore-attaching microtubules. Mdivi-1 inhibited the integration of acentrosomal microtubule-organizing centers into centrosomal asters, resulting in the development of acentrosomal mitotic spindles preferentially in tumor cells. The formation of multipolar acentrosomal spindles leads to gross genome instability and Bax/Bak-dependent apoptosis. Taken together, our studies indicate that inducing multipolar spindles composing of acentrosomal poles in mitosis could achieve tumor-specific antimitotic effect, and mdivi-1 thus represents a novel class of compounds as acentrosomal spindle inducers (ASI).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingnan Wang
- Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jianfeng Li
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Lucas Santana-Santos
- Biomedical Informatics, and Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Masahiro Shuda
- Molecular Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Robert W Sobol
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Bennett Van Houten
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Wei Qian
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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García‐Beccaria M, Martínez P, Flores JM, Blasco MA. In vivo role of checkpoint kinase 2 in signaling telomere dysfunction. Aging Cell 2014; 13:810-6. [PMID: 24920220 PMCID: PMC4331747 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) is a downstream effector of the DNA damage response (DDR). Dysfunctional telomeres, either owing to critical shortening or disruption of the shelterin complex, activate a DDR, which eventually results in cell cycle arrest, senescence and/or apoptosis. Successive generations of telomerase-deficient (Terc) mice show accelerated aging and shorter lifespan due to tissue atrophy and impaired organ regeneration associated to progressive telomere shortening. In contrast, mice deficient for the shelterin component TRF1 in stratified epithelia show a rapid and massive induction of DDR, leading to perinatal lethality and severe skin defects. In both mouse models, p53 deficiency can rescue survival. Here, we set to address the role of CHK2 in signaling telomere dysfunction in both mouse models. To this end, we generated mice doubly deficient for Chk2 and either Terc (Chk2−/−Terc−/−) or Trf1 (Trf1Δ/ΔK5Cre Chk2−/−). We show that Chk2 deletion improves Terc-associated phenotypes, including lifespan and age-associated pathologies. Similarly, Chk2 deficiency partially rescues perinatal mortality and attenuates degenerative pathologies of Trf1Δ/ΔK5Cre mice. In both cases, we show that the effects are mediated by a significant attenuation of p53/p21 signaling pathway. Our results represent the first demonstration of a role for CHK2 in the in vivo signaling of dysfunctional telomeres.
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Affiliation(s)
- María García‐Beccaria
- Molecular Oncology Program Telomeres and Telomerase Group Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) Madrid E‐28029Spain
| | - Paula Martínez
- Molecular Oncology Program Telomeres and Telomerase Group Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) Madrid E‐28029Spain
| | - Juana M. Flores
- Animal Surgery and Medicine Department Faculty of Veterinary Science Complutense University of Madrid Madrid E‐28040Spain
| | - Maria A. Blasco
- Molecular Oncology Program Telomeres and Telomerase Group Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) Madrid E‐28029Spain
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Eimeria tenella: 14-3-3 protein interacts with telomerase. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:3885-9. [PMID: 25216780 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4108-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Telomerase, consisting of telomerase RNA and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), is responsible for the maintenance of the end of linear chromosomes. TERT, as the catalytic subunit of telomerase, plays a critical role in telomerase activity. Researches indicate TERT-associated proteins participate in the regulation of telomerase assembly, posttranslational modification, localization, and enzymatic function. Here, the telomerase RNA-binding domain of Eimeria tenella TERT (EtTRBD) was cloned into pGBKT7 and performed as the bait. α-Galactosidase assay showed that the bait plasmid did not activate Gal4 reporter gene. Further, we isolated an EtTRBD-associated protein, 14-3-3, by yeast two-hybrid screening using the constructed bait plasmid. To confirm the interaction, EtTRBD and 14-3-3 were expressed by prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems. Pull-down assays by purified proteins demonstrated a direct bind between EtTRBD and 14-3-3. Co-immunoprecipitation techniques successfully validated that 14-3-3 interacted with EtTRBD in 293T cells. The protein-protein interaction provides a starting point for more in-depth studies on telomerase and telomere regulation in E. tenella.
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Díaz de la Guardia R, Catalina P, Panero J, Elosua C, Pulgarin A, López MB, Ayllón V, Ligero G, Slavutsky I, Leone PE. Expression profile of telomere-associated genes in multiple myeloma. J Cell Mol Med 2014; 16:3009-21. [PMID: 22947336 PMCID: PMC4393729 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01628.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2012] [Accepted: 08/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
To further contribute to the understanding of multiple myeloma, we have focused our research interests on the mechanisms by which tumour plasma cells have a higher survival rate than normal plasma cells. In this article, we study the expression profile of genes involved in the regulation and protection of telomere length, telomerase activity and apoptosis in samples from patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, smouldering multiple myeloma, multiple myeloma (MM) and plasma cell leukaemia (PCL), as well as several human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs). Using conventional cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization studies, we identified a high number of telomeric associations (TAs). Moreover, telomere length measurements by terminal restriction fragment (TRF) assay showed a shorter mean TRF peak value, with a consistent correlation with the number of TAs. Using gene expression arrays and quantitative PCR we identified the hTERT gene together with 16 other genes directly involved in telomere length maintenance: HSPA9, KRAS, RB1, members of the Small nucleolar ribonucleoproteins family, A/B subfamily of ubiquitously expressed heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins, and 14-3-3 family. The expression levels of these genes were even higher than those in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which have unlimited proliferation capacity. In conclusion, the gene signature suggests that MM tumour cells are able to maintain stable short telomere lengths without exceeding the short critical length, allowing cell divisions to continue. We propose that this could be a mechanism contributing to MM tumour cells expansion in the bone marrow (BM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Díaz de la Guardia
- Andalusian Public Health System Biobank, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Consejería de Salud-Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.
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Jones M, Osawa G, Regal JA, Weinberg DN, Taggart J, Kocak H, Friedman A, Ferguson DO, Keegan CE, Maillard I. Hematopoietic stem cells are acutely sensitive to Acd shelterin gene inactivation. J Clin Invest 2013; 124:353-66. [PMID: 24316971 DOI: 10.1172/jci67871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2013] [Accepted: 10/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The shelterin complex plays dual functions in telomere homeostasis by recruiting telomerase and preventing the activation of a DNA damage response at telomeric ends. Somatic stem cells require telomerase activity, as evidenced by progressive stem cell loss leading to bone marrow failure in hereditary dyskeratosis congenita. Recent work demonstrates that dyskeratosis congenita can also arise from mutations in specific shelterin genes, although little is known about shelterin functions in somatic stem cells. We found that mouse hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are acutely sensitive to inactivation of the shelterin gene Acd, encoding TPP1. Homozygosity for a hypomorphic acd allele preserved the emergence and expansion of fetal HSCs but led to profoundly defective function in transplantation assays. Upon complete Acd inactivation, HSCs expressed p53 target genes, underwent cell cycle arrest, and were severely depleted within days, leading to hematopoietic failure. TPP1 loss induced increased telomeric fusion events in bone marrow progenitors. However, unlike in epidermal stem cells, p53 deficiency did not rescue TPP1-deficient HSCs, indicating that shelterin dysfunction has unique effects in different stem cell populations. Because the consequences of telomere shortening are progressive and unsynchronized, acute loss of shelterin function represents an attractive alternative for studying telomere crisis in hematopoietic progenitors.
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Ozturk S, Sozen B, Demir N. Telomere length and telomerase activity during oocyte maturation and early embryo development in mammalian species. Mol Hum Reprod 2013; 20:15-30. [DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gat055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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