1
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Brandner S. Rodent models of tumours of the central nervous system. Mol Oncol 2024. [PMID: 39324445 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13729] [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: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Modelling of human diseases is an essential component of biomedical research, to understand their pathogenesis and ultimately, develop therapeutic approaches. Here, we will describe models of tumours of the central nervous system, with focus on intrinsic CNS tumours. Model systems for brain tumours were established as early as the 1920s, using chemical carcinogenesis, and a systematic analysis of different carcinogens, with a more refined histological analysis followed in the 1950s and 1960s. Alternative approaches at the time used retroviral carcinogenesis, allowing a more topical, organ-centred delivery. Most of the neoplasms arising from this approach were high-grade gliomas. Whilst these experimental approaches did not directly demonstrate a cell of origin, the localisation and growth pattern of the tumours already pointed to an origin in the neurogenic zones of the brain. In the 1980s, expression of oncogenes in transgenic models allowed a more targeted approach by expressing the transgene under tissue-specific promoters, whilst the constitutive inactivation of tumour suppressor genes ('knock out')-often resulted in embryonic lethality. This limitation was elegantly solved by engineering the Cre-lox system, allowing for a promoter-specific, and often also time-controlled gene inactivation. More recently, the use of the CRISPR Cas9 technology has significantly increased experimental flexibility of gene expression or gene inactivation and thus added increased value of rodent models for the study of pathogenesis and establishing preclinical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Brandner
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Division of Neuropathology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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2
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Francis JC, Capper A, Rust AG, Ferro K, Ning J, Yuan W, de Bono J, Pettitt SJ, Swain A. Identification of genes that promote PI3K pathway activation and prostate tumour formation. Oncogene 2024; 43:1824-1835. [PMID: 38654106 PMCID: PMC11164682 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03028-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
We have performed a functional in vivo mutagenesis screen to identify genes that, when altered, cooperate with a heterozygous Pten mutation to promote prostate tumour formation. Two genes, Bzw2 and Eif5a2, which have been implicated in the process of protein translation, were selected for further validation. Using prostate organoid models, we show that either Bzw2 downregulation or EIF5A2 overexpression leads to increased organoid size and in vivo prostate growth. We show that both genes impact the PI3K pathway and drive a sustained increase in phospho-AKT expression, with PTEN protein levels reduced in both models. Mechanistic studies reveal that EIF5A2 is directly implicated in PTEN protein translation. Analysis of patient datasets identified EIF5A2 amplifications in many types of human cancer, including the prostate. Human prostate cancer samples in two independent cohorts showed a correlation between increased levels of EIF5A2 and upregulation of a PI3K pathway gene signature. Consistent with this, organoids with high levels of EIF5A2 were sensitive to AKT inhibitors. Our study identified novel genes that promote prostate cancer formation through upregulation of the PI3K pathway, predicting a strategy to treat patients with genetic aberrations in these genes particularly relevant for EIF5A2 amplified tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey C Francis
- Division of Cancer Biology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Amy Capper
- Division of Cancer Biology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Alistair G Rust
- Genomics Facility, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Genomic Data Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, UK
| | - Klea Ferro
- Division of Cancer Biology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Jian Ning
- Tumour Modelling Facility, Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Wei Yuan
- Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK
| | - Johann de Bono
- Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK
| | - Stephen J Pettitt
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Amanda Swain
- Division of Cancer Biology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK.
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3
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Lee BWL, Chuah YH, Yoon J, Grinchuk OV, Liang Y, Hirpara JL, Shen Y, Wang LC, Lim YT, Zhao T, Sobota RM, Yeo TT, Wong ALA, Teo K, Nga VDW, Tan BWQ, Suda T, Toh TB, Pervaiz S, Lin Z, Ong DST. METTL8 links mt-tRNA m 3C modification to the HIF1α/RTK/Akt axis to sustain GBM stemness and tumorigenicity. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:338. [PMID: 38744809 PMCID: PMC11093979 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06718-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Epitranscriptomic RNA modifications are crucial for the maintenance of glioma stem cells (GSCs), the most malignant cells in glioblastoma (GBM). 3-methylcytosine (m3C) is a new epitranscriptomic mark on RNAs and METTL8 represents an m3C writer that is dysregulated in cancer. Although METTL8 has an established function in mitochondrial tRNA (mt-tRNA) m3C modification, alternative splicing of METTL8 can also generate isoforms that localize to the nucleolus where they may regulate R-loop formation. The molecular basis for METTL8 dysregulation in GBM, and which METTL8 isoform(s) may influence GBM cell fate and malignancy remain elusive. Here, we investigated the role of METTL8 in regulating GBM stemness and tumorigenicity. In GSC, METTL8 is exclusively localized to the mitochondrial matrix where it installs m3C on mt-tRNAThr/Ser(UCN) for mitochondrial translation and respiration. High expression of METTL8 in GBM is attributed to histone variant H2AZ-mediated chromatin accessibility of HIF1α and portends inferior glioma patient outcome. METTL8 depletion impairs the ability of GSC to self-renew and differentiate, thus retarding tumor growth in an intracranial GBM xenograft model. Interestingly, METTL8 depletion decreases protein levels of HIF1α, which serves as a transcription factor for several receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) genes, in GSC. Accordingly, METTL8 loss inactivates the RTK/Akt axis leading to heightened sensitivity to Akt inhibitor treatment. These mechanistic findings, along with the intimate link between METTL8 levels and the HIF1α/RTK/Akt axis in glioma patients, guided us to propose a HIF1α/Akt inhibitor combination which potently compromises GSC proliferation/self-renewal in vitro. Thus, METTL8 represents a new GBM dependency that is therapeutically targetable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernice Woon Li Lee
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - You Heng Chuah
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jeehyun Yoon
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Oleg V Grinchuk
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yajing Liang
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
| | - Jayshree L Hirpara
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Yating Shen
- The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Loo Chien Wang
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, SingMass National Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yan Ting Lim
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, SingMass National Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tianyun Zhao
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, SingMass National Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Radoslaw M Sobota
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, SingMass National Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tseng Tsai Yeo
- Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrea Li Ann Wong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kejia Teo
- Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vincent Diong Weng Nga
- Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bryce Wei Quan Tan
- Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Toshio Suda
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Tan Boon Toh
- The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shazib Pervaiz
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zhewang Lin
- Department of Biological Sciences, 14 Science Drive 4, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Derrick Sek Tong Ong
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore.
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.
- National Neuroscience Institute, 308433, Singapore, Singapore.
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4
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Tang YJ, Shuldiner EG, Karmakar S, Winslow MM. High-Throughput Identification, Modeling, and Analysis of Cancer Driver Genes In Vivo. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2023; 13:a041382. [PMID: 37277208 PMCID: PMC10317066 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The vast number of genomic and molecular alterations in cancer pose a substantial challenge to uncovering the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and identifying therapeutic targets. High-throughput functional genomic methods in genetically engineered mouse models allow for rapid and systematic investigation of cancer driver genes. In this review, we discuss the basic concepts and tools for multiplexed investigation of functionally important cancer genes in vivo using autochthonous cancer models. Furthermore, we highlight emerging technical advances in the field, potential opportunities for future investigation, and outline a vision for integrating multiplexed genetic perturbations with detailed molecular analyses to advance our understanding of the genetic and molecular basis of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuning J Tang
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Emily G Shuldiner
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Saswati Karmakar
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Monte M Winslow
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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5
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Chlebowicz J, Akella R, Humphreys JM, He H, Kannangara AR, Wei S, Posner B, Goldsmith EJ. Identification of a Class of WNK Isoform-Specific Inhibitors Through High-Throughput Screening. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:93-105. [PMID: 36712947 PMCID: PMC9880028 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s389461] [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: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction WNK [with no lysine (K)] kinases are serine/threonine kinases associated with familial hyperkalemic hypertension (FHHt). WNKs are therapeutic targets for blood pressure regulation, stroke and several cancers including triple negative breast cancer and glioblastoma. Here, we searched for and characterized novel WNK kinase inhibitors. Methods We used a ~210,000-compound library in a high-throughput screen, re-acquisition and assay, commercial specificity screens and crystallography to identify WNK-isoform-selective inhibitors. Results We identified five classes of compounds that inhibit the kinase activity of WNK1: quinoline compounds, halo-sulfones, cyclopropane-containing thiazoles, piperazine-containing compounds, and nitrophenol-derived compounds. The compounds are strongly pan-WNK selective, inhibiting all four WNK isoforms. A class of quinoline compounds was identified that further shows selectivity among the WNK isoforms, being more potent toward WNK3 than WNK1. The crystal structure of the quinoline-derived SW120619 bound to the kinase domain of WNK3 reveals active site binding, and comparison to the WNK1 structure reveals the potential origin of isoform specificity. Discussion The newly discovered classes of compounds may be starting points for generating pharmacological tools and potential drugs treating hypertension and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julita Chlebowicz
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Radha Akella
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - John M Humphreys
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Haixia He
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ashari R Kannangara
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shuguang Wei
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Bruce Posner
- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Goldsmith
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA,Correspondence: Elizabeth J Goldsmith, Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8816, USA, Tel +1 214 645 6376, Email
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6
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Rodriguez M, Kannangara A, Chlebowicz J, Akella R, He H, Tambar UK, Goldsmith EJ. Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Novel Trihalo-sulfone Inhibitors of WNK1. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:1678-1684. [PMID: 36262391 PMCID: PMC9575160 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
With No lysine (K) [WNK] kinases are structurally unique serine/threonine protein kinases that have therapeutic potential for blood pressure regulation and cancer. A novel class of trihalo-sulfone compounds was identified by high-throughput screening. Trihalo-sulfone 1 emerged as an effective inhibitor of WNK1 with an IC50 value of 1.6 μM. Herein, we define chemical features necessary for inhibition of WNK1 using chemical synthesis and X-ray crystallography. Analogues that probed the role of specific functional groups to the inhibitory activity were synthesized. X-ray structures of trihalo-sulfone 1 and a second trihalo-sulfone 23 bound to WNK1 revealed active site binding to two of the three previously defined canonical inhibitor binding pockets as well as a novel binding site for the trihalo-sulfone moiety. The elucidation of these novel interaction sites may allow for the strategic design of even more selective and potent WNK inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Rodriguez
- Department
of Biochemistry, The University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9038, United States
| | - Ashari Kannangara
- Department
of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-8816, United States
| | - Julita Chlebowicz
- Department
of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-8816, United States
| | - Radha Akella
- Department
of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-8816, United States
| | - Haixia He
- Department
of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-8816, United States
| | - Uttam K. Tambar
- Department
of Biochemistry, The University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9038, United States
| | - Elizabeth J. Goldsmith
- Department
of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-8816, United States
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7
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WNK1 collaborates with TGF-β in endothelial cell junction turnover and angiogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2203743119. [PMID: 35867836 PMCID: PMC9335306 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2203743119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is essential for growth of new blood vessels, remodeling existing vessels, and repair of damaged vessels, and these require reorganization of endothelial cell-cell junctions through a partial endothelial-mesenchymal transition. Homozygous disruption of the gene encoding the protein kinase WNK1 results in lethality in mice near embryonic day (E) 12 due to impaired angiogenesis. This angiogenesis defect can be rescued by endothelial-specific expression of an activated form of the WNK1 substrate kinase OSR1. We show that inhibition of WNK1 kinase activity not only prevents sprouting of endothelial cells from aortic slices but also vessel extension in inhibitor-treated embryos ex vivo. Mutations affecting TGF-β signaling also result in abnormal vascular development beginning by E10 and, ultimately, embryonic lethality. Previously, we demonstrated cross-talk of WNK1 with TGF-β-regulated SMAD signaling, and OSR1 was identified as a component of the TGF-β interactome. However, molecular events jointly regulated by TGF-β and WNK1/OSR1 have not been delineated. Here, we show that inhibition of WNK1 promotes TGF-β-dependent degradation of the tyrosine kinase receptor AXL, which is involved in TGF-β-mediated cell migration and angiogenesis. We also show that interaction between OSR1 and occludin, a protein associated with endothelial tight junctions, is an essential step to enable tight junction turnover. Furthermore, we show that these phenomena are WNK1 dependent, and sensitive to TGF-β. These findings demonstrate intimate connections between WNK1/OSR1 and multiple TGF-β-sensitive molecules controlling angiogenesis and suggest that WNK1 may modulate many TGF-β-regulated functions.
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8
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Identification of Recurrent Chromosome Breaks Underlying Structural Rearrangements in Mammary Cancer Cell Lines. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13071228. [PMID: 35886011 PMCID: PMC9319013 DOI: 10.3390/genes13071228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer genomes are characterized by the accumulation of small-scale somatic mutations as well as large-scale chromosomal deletions, amplifications, and complex structural rearrangements. This characteristic is at least partially dependent on the ability of cancer cells to undergo recurrent chromosome breakage. In order to address the extent to which chromosomal structural rearrangement breakpoints correlate with recurrent DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), we simultaneously mapped chromosome structural variation breakpoints (using whole-genome DNA-seq) and spontaneous DSB formation (using Break-seq) in the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and a non-cancer control breast epithelium cell line MCF-10A. We identified concurrent DSBs and structural variation breakpoints almost exclusively in the pericentromeric region of chromosome 16q in MCF-7 cells. We fine-tuned the identification of copy number variation breakpoints on 16q. In addition, we detected recurrent DSBs that occurred in both MCF-7 and MCF-10A. We propose a model for DSB-driven chromosome rearrangements that lead to the translocation of 16q, likely with 10q, and the eventual 16q loss that does not involve the pericentromere of 16q. We present evidence from RNA-seq data that select genes, including SHCBP1, ORC6, and MYLK3, which are immediately downstream from the 16q pericentromere, show heightened expression in MCF-7 cell line compared to the control. Data published by The Cancer Genome Atlas show that all three genes have increased expression in breast tumor samples. We found that SHCBP1 and ORC6 are both strong poor prognosis and treatment outcome markers in the ER-positive breast cancer cohort. We suggest that these genes are potential oncogenes for breast cancer progression. The search for tumor suppressor loss that accompanies the 16q loss ought to be augmented by the identification of potential oncogenes that gained expression during chromosomal rearrangements.
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Regua A, Papp C, Grageda A, Porter BA, Caza T, Bichindaritz I, Krendel M, Sivapiragasam A, Bratslavsky G, Kuznetsov VA, Kotula L. ABI1-based expression signature predicts breast cancer metastasis and survival. Mol Oncol 2022; 16:2632-2657. [PMID: 34967509 PMCID: PMC9297774 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the current standard of care, breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality in women worldwide, thus emphasizing the need for better predictive and therapeutic targets. ABI1 is associated with poor survival and an aggressive breast cancer phenotype, although its role in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and the disease outcome remains to be elucidated. Here, we define the ABI1-based seven-gene prognostic signature that predicts survival of metastatic breast cancer patients; ABI1 is an essential component of the signature. Genetic disruption of Abi1 in primary breast cancer tumors of PyMT mice led to significant reduction of the number and size of lung metastases in a gene dose-dependent manner. The disruption of Abi1 resulted in deregulation of the WAVE complex at the mRNA and protein levels in mouse tumors. In conclusion, ABI1 is a prognostic metastatic biomarker in breast cancer. We demonstrate, for the first time, that lung metastasis is associated with an Abi1 gene dose and specific gene expression aberrations in primary breast cancer tumors. These results indicate that targeting ABI1 may provide a therapeutic advantage in breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Regua
- Department of UrologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
- Present address:
Department of Cancer BiologyWake Forest University School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNC27101USA
| | - Csaba Papp
- Department of UrologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
| | - Andre Grageda
- Department of UrologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
| | - Baylee A. Porter
- Department of UrologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
| | - Tiffany Caza
- Department of PathologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
| | | | - Mira Krendel
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
| | | | - Gennady Bratslavsky
- Department of UrologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
| | - Vladimir A. Kuznetsov
- Department of UrologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
| | - Leszek Kotula
- Department of UrologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologySUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuseNYUSA
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10
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Jung JU, Jaykumar AB, Cobb MH. WNK1 in Malignant Behaviors: A Potential Target for Cancer? Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:935318. [PMID: 35813203 PMCID: PMC9257110 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.935318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the major cause of mortality in cancer patients. Analyses of mouse models and patient data have implicated the protein kinase WNK1 as one of a handful of genes uniquely linked to a subset of invasive cancers. WNK1 signaling pathways are widely implicated in the regulation of ion co-transporters and in controlling cell responses to osmotic stress. In this review we will discuss its actions in tumor malignancy in human cancers and present evidence for its function in invasion, migration, angiogenesis and mesenchymal transition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Melanie H. Cobb
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
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11
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Chen J, Zou L, Lu G, Grinchuk O, Fang L, Ong DST, Taneja R, Ong CN, Shen HM. PFKP alleviates glucose starvation-induced metabolic stress in lung cancer cells via AMPK-ACC2 dependent fatty acid oxidation. Cell Discov 2022; 8:52. [PMID: 35641476 PMCID: PMC9156709 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-022-00406-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells adopt metabolic reprogramming to promote cell survival under metabolic stress. A key regulator of cell metabolism is AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) which promotes catabolism while suppresses anabolism. However, the underlying mechanism of AMPK in handling metabolic stress in cancer remains to be fully understood. In this study, by performing a proteomics screening of AMPK-interacting proteins in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, we discovered the platelet isoform of phosphofructokinase 1 (PFKP), a rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis. Moreover, PFKP was found to be highly expressed in NSCLC patients associated with poor survival. We demonstrated that the interaction of PFKP and AMPK was greatly enhanced upon glucose starvation, a process regulated by PFKP-associated metabolites. Notably, the PFKP-AMPK interaction promoted mitochondrial recruitment of AMPK which subsequently phosphorylated acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 (ACC2) to enhance long-chain fatty acid oxidation, a process helping maintenance of the energy and redox homeostasis and eventually promoting cancer cell survival under glucose starvation. Collectively, we revealed a critical non-glycolysis-related function of PFKP in regulating long-chain fatty acid oxidation via AMPK to alleviate glucose starvation-induced metabolic stress in NSCLC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqing Chen
- NUS Graduate School Integrative Sciences and Engineering Programme (ISEP), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Li Zou
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Guang Lu
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Oleg Grinchuk
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lei Fang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Model Animal Research Center, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Derrick Sek Tong Ong
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Reshma Taneja
- NUS Graduate School Integrative Sciences and Engineering Programme (ISEP), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Choon-Nam Ong
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Han-Ming Shen
- NUS Graduate School Integrative Sciences and Engineering Programme (ISEP), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China.
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12
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E2F and STAT3 provide transcriptional synergy for histone variant H2AZ activation to sustain glioblastoma chromatin accessibility and tumorigenicity. Cell Death Differ 2022; 29:1379-1394. [PMID: 35058574 PMCID: PMC9287453 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00926-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The histone variant H2AZ is overexpressed in diverse cancer types where it facilitates the accessibility of transcriptional regulators to the promoters of cell cycle genes. However, the molecular basis for its dysregulation in cancer remains unknown. Here, we report that glioblastomas (GBM) and glioma stem cells (GSCs) preferentially overexpress H2AZ for their proliferation, stemness and tumorigenicity. Chromatin accessibility analysis of H2AZ2 depleted GSC revealed that E2F1 occupies the enhancer region within H2AZ2 gene promoter, thereby activating H2AZ2 transcription. Exploration of other H2AZ2 transcriptional activators using a customized "anti-H2AZ2" query signature for connectivity map analysis identified STAT3. Co-targeting E2F and STAT3 synergistically reduced the levels of H2AZ, histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) and cell cycle gene transcription, indicating that E2F1 and STAT3 synergize to activate H2AZ gene transcription in GSCs. Remarkably, an E2F/STAT3 inhibitor combination durably suppresses GSC tumorigenicity in an orthotopic GBM xenograft model. In glioma patients, high STAT3 signaling is associated with high E2F1 and H2AZ2 expression. Thus, GBM has uniquely opted the use of E2F1- and STAT3-containing "enhanceosomes" that integrate multiple signaling pathways to achieve H2AZ gene activation, supporting a translational path for the E2F/STAT3 inhibitor combination to be applied in GBM treatment.
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13
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Yoon J, Grinchuk OV, Kannan S, Ang MJY, Li Z, Tay EXY, Lok KZ, Lee BWL, Chuah YH, Chia K, Tirado Magallanes R, Liu C, Zhao H, Hor JH, Lim JJ, Benoukraf T, Toh TB, Chow EKH, Kovalik JP, Ching J, Ng SY, Koh MJ, Liu X, Verma CS, Ong DST. A chemical biology approach reveals a dependency of glioblastoma on biotin distribution. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabf6033. [PMID: 34516894 PMCID: PMC8442857 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf6033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a uniformly lethal disease driven by glioma stem cells (GSCs). Here, we use a chemical biology approach to unveil previously unknown GBM dependencies. By studying sulconazole (SN) with anti-GSC properties, we find that SN disrupts biotin distribution to the carboxylases and histones. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of SN-treated GSCs reveal metabolic alterations that are characteristic of biotin-deficient cells, including intracellular cholesterol depletion, impairment of oxidative phosphorylation, and energetic crisis. Furthermore, SN treatment reduces histone biotinylation, histone acetylation, and expression of superenhancer-associated GSC critical genes, which are also observed when biotin distribution is genetically disrupted by holocarboxylase synthetase (HLCS) depletion. HLCS silencing impaired GSC tumorigenicity in an orthotopic xenograft brain tumor model. In GBM, high HLCS expression robustly indicates a poor prognosis. Thus, the dependency of GBM on biotin distribution suggests that the rational cotargeting of biotin-dependent metabolism and epigenetic pathways may be explored for GSC eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeehyun Yoon
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Oleg V. Grinchuk
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Srinivasaraghavan Kannan
- Biomolecular Modeling and Design Division, Bioinformatics Institute, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore 138671, Singapore
| | - Melgious Jin Yan Ang
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering (NGS), National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore
| | - Zhenglin Li
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Emmy Xue Yun Tay
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ker Zhing Lok
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bernice Woon Li Lee
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - You Heng Chuah
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kimberly Chia
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Roberto Tirado Magallanes
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
| | - Chenfei Liu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Haonan Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Jin Hui Hor
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore , Singapore
| | - Jhin Jieh Lim
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
| | - Touati Benoukraf
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- Division of BioMedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1B 3V6, Canada
| | - Tan Boon Toh
- The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore , Singapore
- Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Edward Kai-Hua Chow
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Jean-Paul Kovalik
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Jianhong Ching
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Shi-Yan Ng
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore , Singapore
- National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore 308433, Singapore
| | - Ming Joo Koh
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Xiaogang Liu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Chandra Shekhar Verma
- Biomolecular Modeling and Design Division, Bioinformatics Institute, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore 138671, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Derrick Sek Tong Ong
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore , Singapore
- National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore 308433, Singapore
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14
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Schachter NF, Adams JR, Skowron P, Kozma KJ, Lee CA, Raghuram N, Yang J, Loch AJ, Wang W, Kucharczuk A, Wright KL, Quintana RM, An Y, Dotzko D, Gorman JL, Wojtal D, Shah JS, Leon-Gomez P, Pellecchia G, Dupuy AJ, Perou CM, Ben-Porath I, Karni R, Zacksenhaus E, Woodgett JR, Done SJ, Garzia L, Sorana Morrissy A, Reimand J, Taylor MD, Egan SE. Single allele loss-of-function mutations select and sculpt conditional cooperative networks in breast cancer. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5238. [PMID: 34475389 PMCID: PMC8413298 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25467-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The most common events in breast cancer (BC) involve chromosome arm losses and gains. Here we describe identification of 1089 gene-centric common insertion sites (gCIS) from transposon-based screens in 8 mouse models of BC. Some gCIS are driver-specific, others driver non-specific, and still others associated with tumor histology. Processes affected by driver-specific and histology-specific mutations include well-known cancer pathways. Driver non-specific gCIS target the Mediator complex, Ca++ signaling, Cyclin D turnover, RNA-metabolism among other processes. Most gCIS show single allele disruption and many map to genomic regions showing high-frequency hemizygous loss in human BC. Two gCIS, Nf1 and Trps1, show synthetic haploinsufficient tumor suppressor activity. Many gCIS act on the same pathway responsible for tumor initiation, thereby selecting and sculpting just enough and just right signaling. These data highlight ~1000 genes with predicted conditional haploinsufficient tumor suppressor function and the potential to promote chromosome arm loss in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan F Schachter
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jessica R Adams
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Patryk Skowron
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Katelyn J Kozma
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christian A Lee
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nandini Raghuram
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joanna Yang
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amanda J Loch
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wei Wang
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Aaron Kucharczuk
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Katherine L Wright
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rita M Quintana
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Natera, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yeji An
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel Dotzko
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer L Gorman
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daria Wojtal
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Juhi S Shah
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Paul Leon-Gomez
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Giovanna Pellecchia
- The Center for Applied Genomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Adam J Dupuy
- Department of Pathology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Charles M Perou
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Departments of Genetics and Pathology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Ittai Ben-Porath
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research-Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Rotem Karni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada (IMRIC), Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Eldad Zacksenhaus
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, and Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jim R Woodgett
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Susan J Done
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Livia Garzia
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Cancer Research Program, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - A Sorana Morrissy
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary and Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jüri Reimand
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sean E Egan
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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15
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Liu Y, Zhou Y, Ma X, Chen L. Inhibition Lysosomal Degradation of Clusterin by Protein Kinase D3 Promotes Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Tumor Growth. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2003205. [PMID: 33643800 PMCID: PMC7887572 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202003205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), with its lack of targeted therapies, shows the worst mortality rate among all breast cancer subtypes. Clusterin (CLU) is implicated to play important oncogenic roles in cancer via promoting various downstream oncogenic pathways. Here, protein kinase D3 (PRKD3) is defined to be a key regulator of CLU in promoting TNBC tumor growth. Mechanically, PRKD3 with kinase activity binding to CLU is critical for CLU protein stability via inhibiting CLU's lysosomal distribution and degradation. CLU and PRKD3 protein level are significantly elevated and positively correlated in collected TNBC tumor samples. CLU silencer (OGX-011) and PRKDs inhibitor (CRT0066101) can both result in impressive tumor growth suppression in vitro and in vivo, suggesting targeting CLU and its key regulator-PRKD3 are promisingly efficient against TNBC. Finally, secreted CLU (sCLU) is found to be elevated in serums from TNBC patients and reduced in serum from TNBC murine models post OGX-011 and/or CRT0066101 treatment, suggesting serum sCLU is a promising blood-based biomarker for clinical management of TNBC. Taken together, this study provides a thorough molecular basis as well as preclinical evidences for targeting CLU pathway as a new promising strategy against TNBC via revealing PRKD3 as the key regulator of CLU in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Bio‐Medical DiagnosticsSuzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesSuzhou215163P. R. China
- Cancer InstituteDepartment of BiochemistryJiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical BiotechnologyCollege of Life ScienceNanjing Normal UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
| | - Yehui Zhou
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySoochow UniversitySuzhou215006P. R. China
| | - Xinxing Ma
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySoochow UniversitySuzhou215006P. R. China
| | - Liming Chen
- Cancer InstituteDepartment of BiochemistryJiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical BiotechnologyCollege of Life ScienceNanjing Normal UniversityNanjing210023P. R. China
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16
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Engelsen AST, Wnuk-Lipinska K, Bougnaud S, Pelissier Vatter FA, Tiron C, Villadsen R, Miyano M, Lotsberg ML, Madeleine N, Panahandeh P, Dhakal S, Tan TZ, Peters SD, Grøndal S, Aziz SM, Nord S, Herfindal L, Stampfer MR, Sørlie T, Brekken RA, Straume O, Halberg N, Gausdal G, Thiery JP, Akslen LA, Petersen OW, LaBarge MA, Lorens JB. AXL Is a Driver of Stemness in Normal Mammary Gland and Breast Cancer. iScience 2020; 23:101649. [PMID: 33103086 PMCID: PMC7578759 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is associated with epithelial plasticity in several solid tumors including breast cancer and AXL-targeting agents are currently in clinical trials. We hypothesized that AXL is a driver of stemness traits in cancer by co-option of a regulatory function normally reserved for stem cells. AXL-expressing cells in human mammary epithelial ducts co-expressed markers associated with multipotency, and AXL inhibition abolished colony formation and self-maintenance activities while promoting terminal differentiation in vitro. Axl-null mice did not exhibit a strong developmental phenotype, but enrichment of Axl + cells was required for mouse mammary gland reconstitution upon transplantation, and Axl-null mice had reduced incidence of Wnt1-driven mammary tumors. An AXL-dependent gene signature is a feature of transcriptomes in basal breast cancers and reduced patient survival irrespective of subtype. Our interpretation is that AXL regulates access to epithelial plasticity programs in MaSCs and, when co-opted, maintains acquired stemness in breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnete S T Engelsen
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.,Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.,INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus Grand Paris, 94800 Villejuif, France
| | | | - Sebastien Bougnaud
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.,Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Fanny A Pelissier Vatter
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.,Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Crina Tiron
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - René Villadsen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Copenhagen N 2200, Denmark
| | - Masaru Miyano
- Biolgical Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.,Department of Population Sciences, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91910, USA
| | - Maria L Lotsberg
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.,Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Noëlly Madeleine
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Pouda Panahandeh
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Sushil Dhakal
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Tuan Zea Tan
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | | | - Sturla Grøndal
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Sura M Aziz
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.,Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.,Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Silje Nord
- Department of Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, 0310 Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars Herfindal
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Martha R Stampfer
- Biolgical Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Therese Sørlie
- Department of Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, 0310 Oslo, Norway
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Oddbjørn Straume
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.,Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Nils Halberg
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Gro Gausdal
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Jean Paul Thiery
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.,INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus Grand Paris, 94800 Villejuif, France.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, A-STAR, Singapore 138673, Singapore.,Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health, Bio-island, Guangzhou, 510320, China
| | - Lars A Akslen
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.,Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.,Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Ole W Petersen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Copenhagen N 2200, Denmark.,Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Copenhagen N 2200, Denmark
| | - Mark A LaBarge
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.,Biolgical Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.,Department of Population Sciences, Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91910, USA
| | - James B Lorens
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway.,Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
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17
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Weber J, Braun CJ, Saur D, Rad R. In vivo functional screening for systems-level integrative cancer genomics. Nat Rev Cancer 2020; 20:573-593. [PMID: 32636489 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-020-0275-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
With the genetic portraits of all major human malignancies now available, we next face the challenge of characterizing the function of mutated genes, their downstream targets, interactions and molecular networks. Moreover, poorly understood at the functional level are also non-mutated but dysregulated genomes, epigenomes or transcriptomes. Breakthroughs in manipulative mouse genetics offer new opportunities to probe the interplay of molecules, cells and systemic signals underlying disease pathogenesis in higher organisms. Herein, we review functional screening strategies in mice using genetic perturbation and chemical mutagenesis. We outline the spectrum of genetic tools that exist, such as transposons, CRISPR and RNAi and describe discoveries emerging from their use. Genome-wide or targeted screens are being used to uncover genomic and regulatory landscapes in oncogenesis, metastasis or drug resistance. Versatile screening systems support experimentation in diverse genetic and spatio-temporal settings to integrate molecular, cellular or environmental context-dependencies. We also review the combination of in vivo screening and barcoding strategies to study genetic interactions and quantitative cancer dynamics during tumour evolution. These scalable functional genomics approaches are transforming our ability to interrogate complex biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Weber
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian J Braun
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dieter Saur
- Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Translational Cancer Research and Experimental Cancer Therapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roland Rad
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
- Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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18
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NOTCH1 activation compensates BRCA1 deficiency and promotes triple-negative breast cancer formation. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3256. [PMID: 32591500 PMCID: PMC7320176 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16936-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BRCA1 mutation carriers have a higher risk of developing triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is a refractory disease due to its non-responsiveness to current clinical targeted therapies. Using the Sleeping Beauty transposon system in Brca1-deficient mice, we identified 169 putative cancer drivers, among which Notch1 is a top candidate for accelerating TNBC by promoting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and regulating the cell cycle. Activation of NOTCH1 suppresses mitotic catastrophe caused by BRCA1 deficiency by restoring S/G2 and G2/M cell cycle checkpoints, which may through activation of ATR-CHK1 signalling pathway. Consistently, analysis of human breast cancer tissue demonstrates NOTCH1 is highly expressed in TNBCs, and the activated form of NOTCH1 correlates positively with increased phosphorylation of ATR. Additionally, we demonstrate that inhibition of the NOTCH1-ATR-CHK1 cascade together with cisplatin synergistically kills TNBC by targeting the cell cycle checkpoint, DNA damage and EMT, providing a potent clinical option for this fatal disease.
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19
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Akella R, Drozdz MA, Humphreys JM, Jiou J, Durbacz MZ, Mohammed ZJ, He H, Liwocha J, Sekulski K, Goldsmith EJ. A Phosphorylated Intermediate in the Activation of WNK Kinases. Biochemistry 2020; 59:1747-1755. [PMID: 32314908 PMCID: PMC7914002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
WNK kinases autoactivate by autophosphorylation. Crystallography of the kinase domain of WNK1 phosphorylated on the primary activating site (pWNK1) in the presence of AMP-PNP reveals a well-ordered but inactive configuration. This new pWNK1 structure features specific and unique interactions of the phosphoserine, less hydration, and smaller cavities compared with those of unphosphorylated WNK1 (uWNK1). Because WNKs are activated by osmotic stress in cells, we addressed whether the structure was influenced directly by osmotic pressure. pWNK1 crystals formed in PEG3350 were soaked in the osmolyte sucrose. Suc-WNK1 crystals maintained X-ray diffraction, but the lattice constants and pWNK1 structure changed. Differences were found in the activation loop and helix C, common switch loci in kinase activation. On the basis of these structural changes, we tested for effects on in vitro activity of two WNKs, pWNK1 and pWNK3. The osmolyte PEG400 enhanced ATPase activity. Our data suggest multistage activation of WNKs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radha Akella
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
| | - Mateusz A. Drozdz
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
| | - John M. Humphreys
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
| | - Jenny Jiou
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
| | - Mateusz Z. Durbacz
- Faculty of Agronomy and Bioengineering, University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-624 Poznan, Poland
| | - Zuhair J. Mohammed
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080
| | - Haixia He
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
| | - Joanna Liwocha
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Kamil Sekulski
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
| | - Elizabeth J. Goldsmith
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8816, USA
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20
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Transposon Insertion Mutagenesis in Mice for Modeling Human Cancers: Critical Insights Gained and New Opportunities. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21031172. [PMID: 32050713 PMCID: PMC7036786 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21031172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transposon mutagenesis has been used to model many types of human cancer in mice, leading to the discovery of novel cancer genes and insights into the mechanism of tumorigenesis. For this review, we identified over twenty types of human cancer that have been modeled in the mouse using Sleeping Beauty and piggyBac transposon insertion mutagenesis. We examine several specific biological insights that have been gained and describe opportunities for continued research. Specifically, we review studies with a focus on understanding metastasis, therapy resistance, and tumor cell of origin. Additionally, we propose further uses of transposon-based models to identify rarely mutated driver genes across many cancers, understand additional mechanisms of drug resistance and metastasis, and define personalized therapies for cancer patients with obesity as a comorbidity.
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21
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Genetically Engineered Mouse Models of Gliomas: Technological Developments for Translational Discoveries. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11091335. [PMID: 31505839 PMCID: PMC6770673 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11091335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The most common brain tumours, gliomas, have significant morbidity. Detailed biological and genetic understanding of these tumours is needed in order to devise effective, rational therapies. In an era generating unprecedented quantities of genomic sequencing data from human cancers, complementary methods of deciphering the underlying functional cancer genes and mechanisms are becoming even more important. Genetically engineered mouse models of gliomas have provided a platform for investigating the molecular underpinning of this complex disease, and new tools for such models are emerging that are enabling us to answer the most important questions in the field. Here, I discuss improvements to genome engineering technologies that have led to more faithful mouse models resembling human gliomas, including new cre/LoxP transgenic lines that allow more accurate cell targeting of genetic recombination, Sleeping Beauty and piggyBac transposons for the integration of transgenes and genetic screens, and CRISPR-cas9 for generating genetic knockout and functional screens. Applications of these technologies are providing novel insights into the functional genetic drivers of gliomagenesis, how these genes cooperate with one another, and the potential cells-of-origin of gliomas, knowledge of which is critical to the development of targeted treatments for patients in the clinic.
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22
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Chiu AP, Keng VW. Liver-Specific Delivery of Sleeping Beauty Transposon System by Hydrodynamic Injection for Cancer Gene Validation. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1907:185-196. [PMID: 30543001 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8967-6_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the complex genetic background of cancers is key in developing effective targeted therapies. The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system is a powerful and unbiased genetic editing tool that can be used for rapid screening of candidate liver cancer driver genes. Manipulating their expression level using a reverse genetic mouse model involving hydrodynamic tail-vein injection delivery can rapidly elucidate the role of these candidate genes in liver cancer tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy P Chiu
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Vincent W Keng
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
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23
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Guimaraes-Young A, Feddersen CR, Dupuy AJ. Sleeping Beauty Mouse Models of Cancer: Microenvironmental Influences on Cancer Genetics. Front Oncol 2019; 9:611. [PMID: 31338332 PMCID: PMC6629774 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon insertional mutagenesis system offers a streamlined approach to identify genetic drivers of cancer. With a relatively random insertion profile, SB is uniquely positioned for conducting unbiased forward genetic screens. Indeed, SB mouse models of cancer have revealed insights into the genetics of tumorigenesis. In this review, we highlight experiments that have exploited the SB system to interrogate the genetics of cancer in distinct biological contexts. We also propose experimental designs that could further our understanding of the relationship between tumor microenvironment and tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Guimaraes-Young
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Charlotte R Feddersen
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Adam J Dupuy
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
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24
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Atypical GATA transcription factor TRPS1 represses gene expression by recruiting CHD4/NuRD(MTA2) and suppresses cell migration and invasion by repressing TP63 expression. Oncogenesis 2018; 7:96. [PMID: 30563971 PMCID: PMC6299095 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-018-0108-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Revised: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional repressor GATA binding 1 (TRPS1), an atypical GATA transcription factor, functions as a transcriptional repressor and is also implicated in human cancers. However, the underlying mechanism of TRPS1 contributing to malignancy remains obscure. In the current study, we report that TRPS1 recognizes both gene proximal and distal transcription start site (TSS) sequences to repress gene expression. Co-IP mass spectrometry and biochemical studies showed that TRPS1 binds to CHD4/NuRD(MTA2). Genome-wide and molecular studies revealed that CHD4/NuRD(MTA2) is required for TRPS1 transcriptional repression. Mechanically, TRPS1 and CHD4/NuRD(MTA2) form precision-guided transcriptional repression machinery in which TRPS1 guides the machinery to specific target sites by recognizing GATA elements, and CHD4/NuRD(MTA2) represses the transcription of target genes. Furthermore, TP63 was identified and validated to be a direct target of TRPS1-CHD4/NuRD(MTA2) complex, which represses TP63 expression by involving decommission of TP63 enhancer in the described precision-guided manner, leading to a reduction of the ΔNp63 level and contributing to migration and invasion of cancer cells.
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25
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Gong X, Liu W, Wu L, Ma Z, Wang Y, Yu S, Zhang J, Xie H, Wei G, Ma F, Lu L, Chen L. Transcriptional repressor GATA binding 1-mediated repression of SRY-box 2 expression suppresses cancer stem cell functions and tumor initiation. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:18646-18654. [PMID: 30315105 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.003983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been reported in a variety of cancers. SRY-box 2 (SOX2) is a member of the SOX family of transcription factors and has been shown to play a critical role in maintaining the functions of CSCs and promoting tumor initiation. However, the underlying mechanisms for the transcriptional regulation of the SOX2 gene in CSCs are unclear. In this study, using in silico and experimental approaches, we identified transcriptional repressor GATA binding 1 (TRPS1), an atypical GATA-type transcription factor, as a critical transcriptional regulator that represses SOX2 expression and thereby suppresses cancer stemness and tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, TRPS1 repressed SOX2 expression by directly targeting the consensus GATA-binding element in the SOX2 promoter as elucidated by ChIP and luciferase reporter assays. Of note, in vitro mammosphere formation assays in culture and in vivo xenograft tumor initiation experiments in mouse models revealed that TRPS1-mediated repression of SOX2 expression suppresses CSC functions and tumor initiation. Taken together, our study provides detailed mechanistic insights into CSC functions and tumor initiation by the TRPS1-SOX2 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Gong
- From the Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.,the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Weiguang Liu
- the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lele Wu
- the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhifang Ma
- the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yuzhi Wang
- From the Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.,the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shiyi Yu
- the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Hao Xie
- From the Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Guanyun Wei
- the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fei Ma
- the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ling Lu
- the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, DrumTower Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, China, and.,the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China
| | - Liming Chen
- From the Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China, .,the Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
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26
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Wang Y, Zhang J, Wu L, Liu W, Wei G, Gong X, Liu Y, Ma Z, Ma F, Thiery JP, Chen L. Tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome 1 protein functions as a scaffold required for ubiquitin-specific protease 4-directed histone deacetylase 2 de-ubiquitination and tumor growth. Breast Cancer Res 2018; 20:83. [PMID: 30071870 PMCID: PMC6090974 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-018-1018-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although numerous studies have reported that tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome type I (TRPS1) protein, the only reported atypical GATA transcription factor, is overexpressed in various carcinomas, the underlying mechanism(s) by which it contributes to cancer remain unknown. Methods Both overexpression and knockdown of TRPS1 assays were performed to examine the effect of TRPS1 on histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) protein level and luminal breast cancer cell proliferation. Also, RT-qRCR, luciferase reporter assay and RNA-sequencing were used for transcription detection. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) using H4K16ac antibody in conjunction with qPCR was used for determining H4K16ac levels in targeted genes. Furthermore, in vitro cell proliferation assay and in vivo tumor xenografts were used to detect the effect of TRPS1 on tumor growth. Results We found that TRPS1 scaffolding recruits and enhances interaction between USP4 and HDAC2 leading to HDAC2 de-ubiquitination and H4K16 deacetylation. We detected repression of a set of cellular growth-related genes by the TRPS1-USP4-HDAC2 axis indicating it is essential in tumor growth. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed that silencing TRPS1 reduced tumor growth, whereas overexpression of HDAC2 restored tumor growth. Conclusion Our study deciphered the TRPS1-USP4-HDAC2 axis as a novel mechanism that contributes to tumor growth. Significantly, our results revealed the scaffolding function of TPRS1 in USP4-directed HDAC2 de-ubiquitination and provided new mechanistic insights into the crosstalk between TRPS1, ubiquitin, and histone modification systems leading to tumor growth. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13058-018-1018-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhi Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Lele Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiguang Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Guanyun Wei
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue Gong
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhifang Ma
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Ma
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Jean Paul Thiery
- Cancer Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 14 Medical Drive, Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Liming Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China.
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27
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Gong MT, Ye SD, Lv WW, He K, Li WX. Comprehensive integrated analysis of gene expression datasets identifies key anti-cancer targets in different stages of breast cancer. Exp Ther Med 2018; 16:802-810. [PMID: 30112036 PMCID: PMC6090421 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.6268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the primary threats to women's health worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of breast cancer remain to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate specific target gene expression profiles in breast cancer tissues in general and in different breast cancer stages, as well as to explore their functions in tumor development. For integrated analysis, a total of 5 gene expression profiling datasets for 3 different stages of breast cancer (stages I-III) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Pre-processing of these datasets was performed using the Robust Multi-array Average algorithm and global renormalization was performed for all studies. Differentially expressed genes between breast cancer patients and controls were estimated using the empirical Bayes algorithm. The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery web server was used for analyzing the enrichment of the differentially expressed genes in Gene Ontology terms of the category biological process and in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Furthermore, breast cancer target genes were downloaded from the Thomson Reuters Integrity Database. We merged these target genes with the genes in breast cancer datasets. Analysis of anti-breast cancer gene networks was performed using the Genome-scale Integrated Analysis of Gene Networks in Tissues web server. The results demonstrated that the normal functions of the cell cycle, cell migration and cell adhesion were altered in all stages of breast cancer. Furthermore, 12 anti-breast cancer genes were identified to be dysregulated in at least one of the three stages. Among all of these genes, ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M2 (RRM2) exhibited the highest degree of interaction with other interacting genes. Analysis of the network interactions revealed that the transcription factor of RRM2 is crucial for cancer development. Other genes, including mucin 1, progesterone receptor and cyclin-dependent kinase 5 regulatory subunit associated protein 3, also exhibited a high degree of interaction with the associated genes. In conclusion, several key anti-breast cancer genes identified in the present study are mainly associated with the regulation of the cell cycle, cell migration, cell adhesion and other cancer-associated cell functions, particularly RRM2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Ting Gong
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, P.R. China
| | - Shou-Dong Ye
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Wen Lv
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China
| | - Kan He
- Center for Stem Cell and Translational Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Xing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, P.R. China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, P.R. China
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28
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de Carvalho LP, Tan SH, Ow GS, Tang Z, Ching J, Kovalik JP, Poh SC, Chin CT, Richards AM, Martinez EC, Troughton RW, Fong AYY, Yan BP, Seneviratna A, Sorokin V, Summers SA, Kuznetsov VA, Chan MY. Plasma Ceramides as Prognostic Biomarkers and Their Arterial and Myocardial Tissue Correlates in Acute Myocardial Infarction. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2018; 3:163-175. [PMID: 30062203 PMCID: PMC6060200 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2017.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Targeted profiling of ceramides identified a 12-ceramide plasma signature that predicted 12-month cardiovascular death, MI, and stroke in 2 prospective cohorts of AMI patients. Among coronary artery bypass grafting patients, plasma ceramides were higher in those with recent AMI compared with those without recent acute MI. Analysis of rat ischemic myocardium revealed a consistent increase in ceramide levels and overexpression of 3 enzymes in ceramide biosynthesis.
We identified a plasma signature of 11 C14 to C26 ceramides and 1 C16 dihydroceramide predictive of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, those with recent AMI, compared with those without recent AMI, showed a significant increase in 5 of the signature’s 12 ceramides in plasma but not simultaneously-biopsied aortic tissue. In contrast, a rat AMI model, compared with sham control, showed a significant increase in myocardial concentrations of all 12 ceramides and up-regulation of 3 ceramide-producing enzymes, suggesting ischemic myocardium as a possible source of this ceramide signature.
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Key Words
- AMI, acute myocardial infarction
- CABG, coronary artery bypass graft
- CAD, coronary artery disease
- CerS6, ceramide synthase 6
- DDg, data-driven grouping
- HILIC, hydrophilic interaction LC
- LAD, left anterior descending
- MACCE, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events
- MI, myocardial infarction
- SPT, serine palmitoyl transferase
- SPTLC2, serine palmitoyl transferase-2
- SWVg, statistically-weighted voting grouping
- acute coronary syndrome
- ceramides
- dihydroceramides
- major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events
- nSMase, neutral sphingomelinase
- prognosis
- risk prediction
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo P de Carvalho
- Federal University of Sao Paulo State, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,National University Heart Center, Singapore, Singapore.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Albert Einstein Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sock Hwee Tan
- National University Heart Center, Singapore, Singapore.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Zhiqun Tang
- Bioinformatics Institute, ASTAR, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, ASTAR, Singapore
| | - Jianhong Ching
- Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - Jean-Paul Kovalik
- Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | | | - Chee-Tang Chin
- Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore.,National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - A Mark Richards
- National University Heart Center, Singapore, Singapore.,Christchurch Heart Institute, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | | | - Richard W Troughton
- Christchurch Heart Institute, University of Otago Christchurch, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Alan Yean-Yip Fong
- Clinical Research Centre, Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, Malaysia.,Department of Cardiology, Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, Malaysia
| | - Bryan P Yan
- Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Vitaly Sorokin
- National University Heart Center, Singapore, Singapore.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Vladimir A Kuznetsov
- Bioinformatics Institute, ASTAR, Singapore.,Nanyang Institute of Technology in Health & Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Mark Y Chan
- National University Heart Center, Singapore, Singapore.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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29
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O'Donnell KA. Advances in functional genetic screening with transposons and CRISPR/Cas9 to illuminate cancer biology. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2018; 49:85-94. [PMID: 29587177 PMCID: PMC6312197 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Large-scale genome sequencing studies have identified a wealth of mutations in human tumors and have dramatically advanced the field of cancer genetics. However, the functional consequences of an altered gene in tumor progression cannot always be inferred from mutation status alone. This underscores the critical need for complementary methods to assign functional significance to mutated genes in cancer. Transposons are mobile genetic elements that serve as powerful tools for insertional mutagenesis. Over the last decade, investigators have employed mouse models with ondemand transposon-mediated mutagenesis to perform unbiased genetic screens to identify clinically relevant genes that participate in the pathogenesis of human cancer. Two distinct DNA transposon mutagenesis systems, Sleeping Beauty (SB) and PiggyBac (PB), have been applied extensively in vivo and more recently, in ex vivo settings. These studies have informed our understanding of the genes and pathways that drive cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. This review highlights the latest progress on cancer gene identification for specific cancer subtypes, as well as new technological advances and incorporation of the CRISPR/Cas9 toolbox into transposon-mediated functional genetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A O'Donnell
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9148, United States; Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9148, United States; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9148, United States.
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Grinchuk OV, Yenamandra SP, Iyer R, Singh M, Lee HK, Lim KH, Chow PK, Kuznetsov VA. Tumor-adjacent tissue co-expression profile analysis reveals pro-oncogenic ribosomal gene signature for prognosis of resectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Oncol 2017; 12:89-113. [PMID: 29117471 PMCID: PMC5748488 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, molecular markers are not used when determining the prognosis and treatment strategy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we proposed that the identification of common pro‐oncogenic pathways in primary tumors (PT) and adjacent non‐malignant tissues (AT) typically used to predict HCC patient risks may result in HCC biomarker discovery. We examined the genome‐wide mRNA expression profiles of paired PT and AT samples from 321 HCC patients. The workflow integrated differentially expressed gene selection, gene ontology enrichment, computational classification, survival predictions, image analysis and experimental validation methods. We developed a 24‐ribosomal gene‐based HCC classifier (RGC), which is prognostically significant in both PT and AT. The RGC gene overexpression in PT was associated with a poor prognosis in the training (hazard ratio = 8.2, P = 9.4 × 10−6) and cross‐cohort validation (hazard ratio = 2.63, P = 0.004) datasets. The multivariate survival analysis demonstrated the significant and independent prognostic value of the RGC. The RGC displayed a significant prognostic value in AT of the training (hazard ratio = 5.0, P = 0.03) and cross‐validation (hazard ratio = 1.9, P = 0.03) HCC groups, confirming the accuracy and robustness of the RGC. Our experimental and bioinformatics analyses suggested a key role for c‐MYC in the pro‐oncogenic pattern of ribosomal biogenesis co‐regulation in PT and AT. Microarray, quantitative RT‐PCR and quantitative immunohistochemical studies of the PT showed that DKK1 in PT is the perspective biomarker for poor HCC outcomes. The common co‐transcriptional pattern of ribosome biogenesis genes in PT and AT from HCC patients suggests a new scalable prognostic system, as supported by the model of tumor‐like metabolic redirection/assimilation in non‐malignant AT. The RGC, comprising 24 ribosomal genes, is introduced as a robust and reproducible prognostic model for stratifying HCC patient risks. The adjacent non‐malignant liver tissue alone, or in combination with HCC tissue biopsy, could be an important target for developing predictive and monitoring strategies, as well as evidence‐based therapeutic interventions, that aim to reduce the risk of post‐surgery relapse in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Malay Singh
- Bioinformatics InstituteSingapore
- Department of Computer ScienceSchool of ComputingNational University of SingaporeSingapore
| | - Hwee Kuan Lee
- Bioinformatics InstituteSingapore
- Department of Computer ScienceSchool of ComputingNational University of SingaporeSingapore
| | - Kiat Hon Lim
- Division of Surgical OncologyNational Cancer CentreSingaporeSingapore
| | - Pierce Kah‐Hoe Chow
- Division of Surgical OncologyNational Cancer CentreSingaporeSingapore
- Office of Clinical SciencesDuke‐NUS Graduate Medical SchoolSingaporeSingapore
- Department of HPB and Transplantation SurgerySingapore General HospitalSingapore
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Kuznetsov VA, Tang Z, Ivshina AV. Identification of common oncogenic and early developmental pathways in the ovarian carcinomas controlling by distinct prognostically significant microRNA subsets. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:692. [PMID: 28984201 PMCID: PMC5629558 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4027-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HG-SOC) is the dominant tumor histologic type in epithelial ovarian cancers, exhibiting highly aberrant microRNA expression profiles and diverse pathways that collectively determine the disease aggressiveness and clinical outcomes. However, the functional relationships between microRNAs, the common pathways controlled by the microRNAs and their prognostic and therapeutic significance remain poorly understood. Methods We investigated the gene expression patterns of microRNAs in the tumors of 582 HG-SOC patients to identify prognosis signatures and pathways controlled by tumor miRNAs. We developed a variable selection and prognostic method, which performs a robust selection of small-sized subsets of the predictive features (e.g., expressed microRNAs) that collectively serves as the biomarkers of cancer risk and progression stratification system, interconnecting these features with common cancer-related pathways. Results Across different cohorts, our meta-analysis revealed two robust and unbiased miRNA-based prognostic classifiers. Each classifier reproducibly discriminates HG-SOC patients into high-confidence low-, intermediate- or high-prognostic risk subgroups with essentially different 5-year overall survival rates of 51.6-85%, 20-38.1%, and 0-10%, respectively. Significant correlations of the risk subgroup’s stratification with chemotherapy treatment response were observed. We predicted specific target genes involved in nine cancer-related and two oocyte maturation pathways (neurotrophin and progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation), where each gene can be controlled by more than one miRNA species of the distinct miRNA HG-SOC prognostic classifiers. Conclusions We identified robust and reproducible miRNA-based prognostic subsets of the of HG-SOC classifiers. The miRNAs of these classifiers could control nine oncogenic and two developmental pathways, highlighting common underlying pathologic mechanisms and perspective targets for the further development of a personalized prognosis assay(s) and the development of miRNA-interconnected pathway-centric and multi-agent therapeutic intervention. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-4027-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir A Kuznetsov
- Genome and Gene Expression Data Analysis Division, Bioinformatics Institute, A-STAR, 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore, 138671, Singapore. .,School of Computer Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
| | - Zhiqun Tang
- Genome and Gene Expression Data Analysis Division, Bioinformatics Institute, A-STAR, 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore, 138671, Singapore
| | - Anna V Ivshina
- Genome and Gene Expression Data Analysis Division, Bioinformatics Institute, A-STAR, 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore, 138671, Singapore
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