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DeBoy EA, Nicosia AM, Liyanarachchi S, Iyer SS, Shah MH, Ringel MD, Brock P, Armanios M. Telomere-lengthening germline variants predispose to a syndromic papillary thyroid cancer subtype. Am J Hum Genet 2024; 111:1114-1124. [PMID: 38688277 PMCID: PMC11179366 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy. 10% to 15% of individuals show familial clustering with three or more affected members, but the factors underlying this risk are unknown. In a group of recently studied individuals with POT1 pathogenic variants and ultra-long telomere length, PTC was the second most common solid tumor. We tested whether variants in POT1 and four other telomere-maintenance genes associated with familial cancer underlie PTC susceptibility. Among 470 individuals, we identified pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in three genes encoding telomere-binding proteins: POT1, TINF2, and ACD. They were found in 4.5% and 1.5% of familial and unselected cases, respectively. Individuals harboring these variants had ultra-long telomere length, and 15 of 18 (83%) developed other cancers, of which melanoma, lymphoma, and sarcoma were most common. Among individuals with PTC and melanoma, 22% carried a deleterious germline variant, suggesting that a long telomere syndrome might be clinically recognizable. Successive generations had longer telomere length than their parents and, at times, developed more cancers at younger ages. Tumor sequencing identified a single oncogenic driver, BRAF p.Val600Glu, in 10 of 10 tumors studied, but no telomere-maintenance mechanism, including at the TERT promoter. These data identify a syndromic subset of PTCs with locus heterogeneity and telomere lengthening as a convergent mechanism. They suggest these germline variants lower the threshold to cancer by obviating the need for an acquired telomere-maintenance mechanism in addition to sustaining the longevity of oncogenic mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A DeBoy
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Telomere Center at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anna M Nicosia
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Telomere Center at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Sheila S Iyer
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Telomere Center at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Manisha H Shah
- Department of Internal Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Matthew D Ringel
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Pamela Brock
- Department of Internal Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mary Armanios
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Telomere Center at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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2
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Ng YB, Akincilar SC. Shaping DNA damage responses: Therapeutic potential of targeting telomeric proteins and DNA repair factors in cancer. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2024; 76:102460. [PMID: 38776747 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2024.102460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Shelterin proteins regulate genomic stability by preventing inappropriate DNA damage responses (DDRs) at telomeres. Unprotected telomeres lead to persistent DDR causing cell cycle inhibition, growth arrest, and apoptosis. Cancer cells rely on DDR to protect themselves from DNA lesions and exogenous DNA-damaging agents such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore, targeting DDR machinery is a promising strategy to increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to existing cancer therapies. However, the success of these DDR inhibitors depends on other mutations, and over time, patients develop resistance to these therapies. This suggests the need for alternative approaches. One promising strategy is co-inhibiting shelterin proteins with DDR molecules, which would offset cellular fitness in DNA repair in a mutation-independent manner. This review highlights the associations and dependencies of the shelterin complex with the DDR proteins and discusses potential co-inhibition strategies that might improve the therapeutic potential of current inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Bin Ng
- Laboratory of NFκB Signalling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Semih Can Akincilar
- Laboratory of NFκB Signalling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Republic of Singapore.
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3
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Savage SA. Telomere length and cancer risk: finding Goldilocks. Biogerontology 2024; 25:265-278. [PMID: 38109000 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-023-10080-9] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are the nucleoprotein complex at chromosome ends essential in genomic stability. Baseline telomere length (TL) is determined by rare and common germline genetic variants but shortens with age and is susceptible to certain environmental exposures. Cellular senescence or apoptosis are normally triggered when telomeres reach a critically short length, but cancer cells overcome these protective mechanisms and continue to divide despite chromosomal instability. Rare germline variants in telomere maintenance genes cause exceedingly short telomeres for age (< 1st percentile) and the telomere biology disorders, which are associated with elevated risks of bone marrow failure, myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia, and squamous cell carcinoma of the head/neck and anogenital regions. Long telomeres due to rare germline variants in the same or different telomere maintenance genes are associated with elevated risks of other cancers, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia or sarcoma. Early epidemiology studies of TL in the general population lacked reproducibility but new methods, including creation of a TL polygenic score using common variants, have found longer telomeres associated with excess risks of renal cell carcinoma, glioma, lung cancer, and others. It has become clear that when it comes to TL and cancer etiology, not too short, not too long, but "just right" telomeres are important in minimizing cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon A Savage
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, 6E456, Bethesda, MD, 20892-6772, USA.
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4
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Jiang YJ, Xia Y, Han ZJ, Hu YX, Huang T. Chromosomal localization of mutated genes in non-syndromic familial thyroid cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1286426. [PMID: 38571492 PMCID: PMC10987779 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1286426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Familial non-medullary thyroid carcinoma (FNMTC) is a type of thyroid cancer characterized by genetic susceptibility, representing approximately 5% of all non-medullary thyroid carcinomas. While some cases of FNMTC are associated with familial multi-organ tumor predisposition syndromes, the majority occur independently. The genetic mechanisms underlying non-syndromic FNMTC remain unclear. Initial studies utilized SNP linkage analysis to identify susceptibility loci, including the 1q21 locus, 2q21 locus, and 4q32 locus, among others. Subsequent research employed more advanced techniques such as Genome-wide Association Study and Whole Exome Sequencing, leading to the discovery of genes such as IMMP2L, GALNTL4, WDR11-AS1, DUOX2, NOP53, MAP2K5, and others. But FNMTC exhibits strong genetic heterogeneity, with each family having its own pathogenic genes. This is the first article to provide a chromosomal landscape map of susceptibility genes associated with non-syndromic FNMTC and analyze their potential associations. It also presents a detailed summary of variant loci, characteristics, research methodologies, and validation results from different countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-jia Jiang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yun Xia
- Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhuo-jun Han
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi-xuan Hu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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5
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Jensen MR, Jelsig AM, Gerdes AM, Hölmich LR, Kainu KH, Lorentzen HF, Hansen MH, Bak M, Johansson PA, Hayward NK, Van Overeem Hansen T, Wadt KA. TINF2 is a major susceptibility gene in Danish patients with multiple primary melanoma. HGG ADVANCES 2023; 4:100225. [PMID: 37646013 PMCID: PMC10461021 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2023.100225] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
TINF2 encodes the TINF2 protein, which is a subunit in the shelterin complex critical for telomere regulation. Three recent studies have associated six truncating germline variants in TINF2 that have previously been associated with a cancer predisposition syndrome (CPS) caused by elongation of the telomeres. This has added TINF2 to the long telomere syndrome genes, together with other telomere maintenance genes such as ACD, POT1, TERF2IP, and TERT. We report a clinical study of 102 Danish patients with multiple primary melanoma (MPM) in which a germline truncating variant in TINF2 (p.(Arg265Ter)) was identified in four unrelated participants. The telomere lengths of three variant carriers were >90% percentile. In a routine diagnostic setting, the variant was identified in two more families, including an additional MPM patient and monozygotic twins with thyroid cancer and other cancer types. A total of 10 individuals from six independent families were confirmed carriers, all with cancer history, predominantly melanoma. Our findings suggest a major role of TINF2 in Danish patients with MPM. In addition to melanoma, other cancers in the six families include thyroid, renal, breast, and sarcoma, supporting a CPS in which melanoma, thyroid cancer, and sarcoma predominate. Further studies are needed to establish the full spectrum of associated cancer types and characterize lifetime cancer risk in carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Richter Jensen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Marie Jelsig
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne-Marie Gerdes
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lisbet Rosenkrantz Hölmich
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, 2730 Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kati Hannele Kainu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, 2900 Gentofte, Denmark
| | | | | | - Mads Bak
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Thomas Van Overeem Hansen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karin A.W. Wadt
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Byrjalsen A, Brainin AE, Lund TK, Andersen MK, Jelsig AM. Size matters in telomere biology disorders ‒ expanding phenotypic spectrum in patients with long or short telomeres. Hered Cancer Clin Pract 2023; 21:7. [PMID: 37189188 PMCID: PMC10184327 DOI: 10.1186/s13053-023-00251-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The end of each chromosome consists of a DNA region termed the telomeres. The telomeres serve as a protective shield against degradation of the coding DNA sequence, as the DNA strand inevitably ‒ with each cell division ‒ is shortened. Inherited genetic variants cause telomere biology disorders when located in genes (e.g. DKC1, RTEL1, TERC, TERT) playing a role in the function and maintenance of the telomeres. Subsequently patients with telomere biology disorders associated with both too short or too long telomeres have been recognized. Patients with telomere biology disorders associated with short telomeres are at increased risk of dyskeratosis congenita (nail dystrophy, oral leukoplakia, and hyper- or hypo-pigmentation of the skin), pulmonary fibrosis, hematologic disease (ranging from cytopenia to leukemia) and in rare cases very severe multiorgan manifestations and early death. Patients with telomere biology disorders associated with too long telomeres have in recent years been found to confer an increased risk of melanoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Despite this, many patients have an apparently isolated manifestation rendering telomere biology disorders most likely underdiagnosed. The complexity of telomere biology disorders and many causative genes makes it difficult to design a surveillance program which will ensure identification of early onset disease manifestation without overtreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Byrjalsen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen East, Denmark.
| | - Anna Engell Brainin
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen East, Denmark
| | - Thomas Kromann Lund
- Department of Cardiology, Section for Lung Transplantation, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen East, 2100, Denmark
| | - Mette Klarskov Andersen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen East, Denmark
| | - Anne Marie Jelsig
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen East, Denmark
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7
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Tous C, Muñoz-Redondo C, Bravo-Gil N, Gavilan A, Fernández RM, Antiñolo J, Navarro-González E, Antiñolo G, Borrego S. Identification of Novel Candidate Genes for Familial Thyroid Cancer by Whole Exome Sequencing. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097843. [PMID: 37175550 PMCID: PMC10178269 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097843] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid carcinoma (TC) can be classified as medullary (MTC) and non-medullary (NMTC). While most TCs are sporadic, familial forms of MTC and NMTC also exist (less than 1% and 3-9% of all TC cases, respectively). Germline mutations in RET are found in more than 95% of familial MTC, whereas familial NMTC shows a high degree of genetic heterogeneity. Herein, we aimed to identify susceptibility genes for familial NMTC and non-RET MTC by whole exome sequencing in 58 individuals belonging to 18 Spanish families with these carcinomas. After data analysis, 53 rare candidate segregating variants were identified in 12 of the families, 7 of them located in previously TC-associated genes. Although no common mutated genes were detected, biological processes regulating functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation, survival and adhesion were enriched. The reported functions of the identified genes together with pathogenicity and structural predictions, reinforced the candidacy of 36 of them, suggesting new loci related to TC and novel genotype-phenotype correlations. Therefore, our strategy provides clues to possible molecular mechanisms underlying familial forms of MTC and NMTC. These new molecular findings and clinical data of patients may be helpful for the early detection, development of tailored therapies and optimizing patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Tous
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Carmen Muñoz-Redondo
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Nereida Bravo-Gil
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Angela Gavilan
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Raquel María Fernández
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Juan Antiñolo
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Elena Navarro-González
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Guillermo Antiñolo
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Salud Borrego
- Department of Maternofetal Medicine, Genetics and Reproduction, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 41013 Seville, Spain
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8
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Koivuluoma S, Vorimo S, Mattila TM, Tervasmäki A, Kumpula T, Kuismin O, Winqvist R, Moilanen J, Mantere T, Pylkäs K. Truncating TINF2 p.Tyr312Ter variant and inherited breast cancer susceptibility. Fam Cancer 2023; 22:13-17. [PMID: 35590014 PMCID: PMC9829577 DOI: 10.1007/s10689-022-00295-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
TINF2 is a critical subunit of the shelterin complex, which protects and maintains the length of telomeres. Pathogenic missense and truncating TINF2 mutations are causative for dyskeratosis congenita (DC), a rare, dominantly inherited bone marrow failure syndrome characterized by mucocutaneous abnormalities and cancer predisposition. Recent reports indicate that specific TINF2 truncating mutations act as high penetrance cancer predisposition alleles outside DC context, including breast cancer in their tumor spectrum. Here, we have evaluated the role of germline mutations in TINF2 and other shelterin genes in inherited breast cancer susceptibility using exome sequencing data from 98 Northern Finnish breast cancer cases with indication of inherited disease predisposition as a discovery cohort. A single protein truncating variant, TINF2 p.Tyr312Ter, was identified in one of the cases (1/98), and four more carriers were observed in the subsequently genotyped unselected breast cancer cohort (4/1904). None of the carriers were reported to have DC. TINF2 p.Tyr312Ter resulted in stable short form of mRNA transcript, and normal telomere length has been indicated by a recent report. Although recurrent in cases (total of 5/2095), TINF2 p.Tyr312Ter is also present in Finnish population controls (8/12,517), and the observed 4-fold higher frequency in cases falls at most into the range of moderate breast cancer risk alleles (OR 3.74, 95% CI 1.22-11.45, p = 0.029). Current results indicate that not all TINF2 truncating variants are high cancer risk alleles and add further evidence that different TINF2 mutations can have very diverse effects on the disease phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Koivuluoma
- grid.10858.340000 0001 0941 4873Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Tumor Biology, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit and Biocenter Oulu, NordLab Oulu, University of Oulu, 90220 Aapistie 5A, Oulu, Finland
| | - Sandra Vorimo
- grid.10858.340000 0001 0941 4873Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Tumor Biology, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit and Biocenter Oulu, NordLab Oulu, University of Oulu, 90220 Aapistie 5A, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tiina M. Mattila
- grid.10858.340000 0001 0941 4873Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Tumor Biology, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit and Biocenter Oulu, NordLab Oulu, University of Oulu, 90220 Aapistie 5A, Oulu, Finland
| | - Anna Tervasmäki
- grid.10858.340000 0001 0941 4873Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Tumor Biology, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit and Biocenter Oulu, NordLab Oulu, University of Oulu, 90220 Aapistie 5A, Oulu, Finland
| | - Timo Kumpula
- grid.10858.340000 0001 0941 4873Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Tumor Biology, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit and Biocenter Oulu, NordLab Oulu, University of Oulu, 90220 Aapistie 5A, Oulu, Finland
| | - Outi Kuismin
- grid.10858.340000 0001 0941 4873Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical Research Center Oulu and PEDEGO Research Unit, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Robert Winqvist
- grid.10858.340000 0001 0941 4873Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Tumor Biology, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit and Biocenter Oulu, NordLab Oulu, University of Oulu, 90220 Aapistie 5A, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jukka Moilanen
- grid.10858.340000 0001 0941 4873Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical Research Center Oulu and PEDEGO Research Unit, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tuomo Mantere
- grid.10858.340000 0001 0941 4873Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Tumor Biology, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit and Biocenter Oulu, NordLab Oulu, University of Oulu, 90220 Aapistie 5A, Oulu, Finland
| | - Katri Pylkäs
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Tumor Biology, Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit and Biocenter Oulu, NordLab Oulu, University of Oulu, 90220, Aapistie 5A, Oulu, Finland.
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Chun-on P, Hinchie AM, Beale HC, Gil Silva AA, Rush E, Sander C, Connelly CJ, Seynnaeve BK, Kirkwood JM, Vaske OM, Greider CW, Alder JK. TPP1 promoter mutations cooperate with TERT promoter mutations to lengthen telomeres in melanoma. Science 2022; 378:664-668. [PMID: 36356143 PMCID: PMC10590476 DOI: 10.1126/science.abq0607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Overcoming replicative senescence is an essential step during oncogenesis, and the reactivation of TERT through promoter mutations is a common mechanism. TERT promoter mutations are acquired in about 75% of melanomas but are not sufficient to maintain telomeres, suggesting that additional mutations are required. We identified a cluster of variants in the promoter of ACD encoding the shelterin component TPP1. ACD promoter variants are present in about 5% of cutaneous melanoma and co-occur with TERT promoter mutations. The two most common somatic variants create or modify binding sites for E-twenty-six (ETS) transcription factors, similar to mutations in the TERT promoter. The variants increase the expression of TPP1 and function together with TERT to synergistically lengthen telomeres. Our findings suggest that TPP1 promoter variants collaborate with TERT activation to enhance telomere maintenance and immortalization in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pattra Chun-on
- Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Environmental and Occupational Health Department, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Faculty of Medicine and Public Health, HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical Science, Chulabhorn Royal Academy; Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Angela M. Hinchie
- Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Holly C. Beale
- UC Santa Cruz, Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz; CA, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz; CA, USA
| | - Agustin A. Gil Silva
- Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Rush
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Hillman Cancer Institute; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Cindy Sander
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Hillman Cancer Institute; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Carla J. Connelly
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brittani K.N. Seynnaeve
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Hillman Cancer Institute; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - John M. Kirkwood
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Hillman Cancer Institute; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Olena M. Vaske
- UC Santa Cruz, Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz; CA, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz; CA, USA
| | - Carol W. Greider
- UC Santa Cruz, Genomics Institute, University of California, Santa Cruz; CA, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz; CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jonathan K. Alder
- Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine; Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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10
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Choo S, Lorbeer FK, Regalado SG, Short SB, Wu S, Rieser G, Bertuch AA, Hockemeyer D. Editing TINF2 as a potential therapeutic approach to restore telomere length in dyskeratosis congenita. Blood 2022; 140:608-618. [PMID: 35421215 PMCID: PMC9373014 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021013750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the TINF2 gene, encoding the shelterin protein TIN2, cause telomere shortening and the inherited bone marrow (BM) failure syndrome dyskeratosis congenita (DC). A lack of suitable model systems limits the mechanistic understanding of telomere shortening in the stem cells and thus hinders the development of treatment options for BM failure. Here, we endogenously introduced TIN2-DC mutations in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to dissect the disease mechanism and identify a gene-editing strategy that rescued the disease phenotypes. The hESCs with the T284R disease mutation exhibited the short telomere phenotype observed in DC patients. Yet, telomeres in mutant hESCs did not trigger DNA damage responses at telomeres or show exacerbated telomere shortening when differentiated into telomerase-negative cells. Disruption of the mutant TINF2 allele by introducing a frameshift mutation in exon 2 restored telomere length in stem cells and the replicative potential of differentiated cells. Similarly, we introduced TIN2-DC disease variants in human HSPCs to assess the changes in telomere length and proliferative capacity. Lastly, we showed that editing at exon 2 of TINF2 that restored telomere length in hESCs could be generated in TINF2-DC patient HSPCs. Our study demonstrates a simple genetic intervention that rescues the TIN2-DC disease phenotype in stem cells and provides a versatile platform to assess the efficacy of potential therapeutic approaches in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunga Choo
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Franziska K Lorbeer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Samuel G Regalado
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Sarah B Short
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Shannon Wu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Gabrielle Rieser
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Alison A Bertuch
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Dirk Hockemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA; and
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
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11
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Zhou J, Chen F, Yan A, Xia X. Explore the molecular mechanism of angle-closure glaucoma in elderly patients induced telomere shortening of retinal ganglion cells through oxidative stress. NUCLEOSIDES, NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 41:1024-1035. [PMID: 35802889 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2022.2094947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Senile glaucoma is a common ophthalmological disease in the elderly. It is a disease of visual papillary perfusion caused by elevated intraocular pressure, complicated by visual dysfunction. Glaucoma can cause serious damage to the normal vision of the elderly. Therefore, exploring the related molecular mechanisms of glaucoma is of great significance to the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. This is an exploratory study. Establish a mouse model and conduct experimental groupings. After one week of adaptive feeding, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with an anesthetic mixture: ketamine + xylazine. Then the mice were sacrificed by neck dissection, and the eyeball tissues were immediately dissected. HE staining was used to analyze the histopathological characteristics of the retina of each group of mice. MitoSOX fluorescent probe was used to analyze the content of ROS in retinal tissue. The ELISA analysis was used to detect the activation of β-galactosidase for the aging characteristics of retinal ganglion cells in retinal tissues. Immunohistochemistry experiments were used to analyze the expression of telomerase TERT in retinal tissues. Western blot analysis was used to determine the expression of proteins POT1, TERF1, TERF2, and TINF2 in retinal tissues. The HE staining experiment showed that the damage of retinal tissue decreased from group Glaucoma to group Old, group Old to group Young. The experimental results of MitoSOX fluorescent probe show that ROS content is positively correlated with the degree of tissue damage. ELISA analysis results showed that the expression trend of β-galactosidase was the same as the ROS content. The protein expression levels related to telomere protection (TRET, POT1, TREF1, TREF2 and TINF2) all increased from group Glaucoma to group Old, group Old to group Young. The increase in ROS content, the decrease in telomere protection-related protein expression (telomere shortening) induced by ROS, and the increase of the expression of β-galactosidase, are all potential molecular mechanisms for the occurrence of angle-closure glaucoma in elderly patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinzi Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First People's Hospital of Guiyang, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Fenghua Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First People's Hospital of Guiyang, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Aimin Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First People's Hospital of Guiyang, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Xiaobo Xia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, P.R. China
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12
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Ren HL, Zheng YC, He GQ, Gao J, Guo X. A Rare Heterozygous TINF2 Deletional Frameshift Mutation in a Chinese Pedigree With a Spectrum of TBDs Phenotypes. Front Genet 2022; 13:913133. [PMID: 35873475 PMCID: PMC9300939 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.913133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere biology disorders (TBDs) induced by TINF2 mutations manifest clinically with a spectrum of phenotypes, from silent carriers to a set of overlapping conditions. A rare TINF2 frameshift mutation (c.591delG) encoding a truncated mutant TIN2 protein (p.W198fs) was identified in a 6-years-and-3-month-old Chinese girl with neuroblastoma (NB) by next generation sequencing and confirmed by Sanger sequencing. To explore the possible implications of TINF2 mutations in TBDs development, the TINF2 mutant was transfected into the human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells, and mRNA expression of the shelterin complex components as well as the cellular distribution of mutant TIN2 were examined. The TINF2 mutation was phenotypically associated with short stature in the proband, nail dystrophy and spotted hypopigmentation in her mother, and psoriasis in her older brother. I-TASSER modeling analysis revealed conformational changes of the mutant TIN2 protein and loss of pivotal domains downstream of the 198th amino acid. Additionally, mRNA expression of the shelterin components was downregulated, and TIN2 mutant protein expression was reduced in HEK293T cells transfected with mutant TINF2. Furthermore, instead of being restricted to the nucleus, the mutant TIN2 was identified in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The TINF2 gene mutation might impair the function of the shelterin complex and the telomere maintenance mechanisms, both of which are involved in the development of TBDs. TBDs have been associated with increased cancer risk. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of NB in patients with TBDs. The relationship between the TINF2 mutation and NB may need to further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Long Ren
- Division of Spinal Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying-Chun Zheng
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guo-Qian He
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Chronobiology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ju Gao
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Chronobiology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Ju Gao, ; Xia Guo,
| | - Xia Guo
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Chronobiology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Ju Gao, ; Xia Guo,
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13
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Yin S, Zhang F, Lin S, Chen W, Weng K, Liu D, Wang C, He Z, Chen Y, Ma W, Huang J, Huang Y, Songyang Z. TIN2 deficiency leads to ALT-associated phenotypes and differentiation defects in embryonic stem cells. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:1183-1197. [PMID: 35395177 PMCID: PMC9120858 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere integrity is critical for embryonic development, and core telomere-binding proteins, such as TIN2, are key to maintaining telomere stability. Here, we report that homozygous Tin2S341X resulted in embryonic lethality in mice and reduced expression of Tin2 in the derived mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Homozygous mutant mESCs were able to self-renew and remain undifferentiated but displayed many phenotypes associated with alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), including excessively long and heterogeneous telomeres, increased ALT-associated promyelocytic leukemia (PML) bodies, and unstable chromosomal ends. These cells also showed upregulation of Zscan4 expression and elevated targeting of DAXX/ATRX and H3K9me3 marks on telomeres. Furthermore, the mutant mESCs were impeded in their differentiation capacity. Upon differentiation, DAXX/ATRX and PML bodies disassociated from telomeres in these cells, where elevated DNA damage was also apparent. Our results reveal differential responses to telomere dysfunction in mESCs versus differentiated cells and highlight the critical role of TIN2 in embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Yin
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Fangyingnan Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Song Lin
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Wei Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Kai Weng
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Verna and Marrs Mclean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Chuanle Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Zibin He
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yuxi Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Wenbin Ma
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Junjiu Huang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yan Huang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
| | - Zhou Songyang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510005, China.
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14
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de Mello LEB, Carneiro TNR, Araujo AN, Alves CX, Galante PAF, Buzatto VC, das Graças de Almeida M, Vermeulen-Serpa KM, de Lima Vale SH, José de Pinto Paiva F, Brandão-Neto J, Cerutti JM. Identification of NID1 as a novel candidate susceptibility gene for familial non-medullary thyroid carcinoma using whole-exome sequencing. Endocr Connect 2022; 11:EC-21-0406.R2. [PMID: 34941562 PMCID: PMC8859953 DOI: 10.1530/ec-21-0406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The genetics underlying non-syndromic familial non-medullary thyroid carcinoma (FNMTC) is still poorly understood. To identify susceptibility genes for FNMTC, we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) in a Brazilian family affected by papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in three consecutive generations. WES was performed in four affected and two unaffected family members. Manual inspection in over 100 previously reported susceptibility genes for FNMTC showed that no variants in known genes co-segregated with disease phenotype in this family. Novel candidate genes were investigated using PhenoDB and filtered using Genome Aggregation (gnomAD) and Online Archive of Brazilian Mutations (ABraOM) population databases. The missense variant p.Ile657Met in the NID1 gene was the only variant that co-segregated with the disease, while absent in unaffected family members and controls. The allele frequency for this variant was <0.0001 in the gnomAD and ABbraOM databases. In silico analysis predicted the variant to be deleterious or likely damaging to the protein function. Somatic mutations in NID1 gene were found in nearly 500 cases of different cancer subtypes in the intOGen platform. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed NID1 expression in PTC cells, while it was absent in normal thyroid tissue. Our findings were corroborated using data from the TCGA cohort. Moreover, higher expression of NID1 was associated with higher likelihood of relapse after treatment and N1b disease in PTCs from the TCGA cohort. Although replication studies are needed to better understand the role of this variant in the FNMTC susceptibility, the NID1 variant (c.1971T>G) identified in this study fulfills several criteria that suggest it as a new FNMTC predisposing gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Eduardo Barbalho de Mello
- Genetic Bases of Thyroid Tumors Laboratory, Division of Genetics, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Thaise Nayane Ribeiro Carneiro
- Genetic Bases of Thyroid Tumors Laboratory, Division of Genetics, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aline Neves Araujo
- Genetic Bases of Thyroid Tumors Laboratory, Division of Genetics, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Camila Xavier Alves
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | | | | | - Maria das Graças de Almeida
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Karina Marques Vermeulen-Serpa
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Sancha Helena de Lima Vale
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
- Department of Nutrition, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Fernando José de Pinto Paiva
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - José Brandão-Neto
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Janete Maria Cerutti
- Genetic Bases of Thyroid Tumors Laboratory, Division of Genetics, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Correspondence should be addressed to J M Cerutti:
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15
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RAP1/TERF2IP-A Multifunctional Player in Cancer Development. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13235970. [PMID: 34885080 PMCID: PMC8657031 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13235970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary RAP1 (TERF2IP) is a member of the shelterin complex that protects telomeric DNA and plays a critical role in maintaining chromosome stability. However, mammalian RAP1 was recently found to have additional functions apart from telomeres, acting as a regulator of the NF-κB pathway and transcription factor, and has been suggested that they have putative roles in cancer development. Here, we focus on the main roles of RAP1 in different mechanisms of oncogenesis, progression, and chemoresistance, and consider the clinical significance of findings about its regulation and biological functions. Abstract Mammalian RAP1 (TERF2IP), the most conserved shelterin component, plays a pleiotropic role in the regulation of a variety of cellular processes, including cell metabolism, DNA damage response, and NF-κB signaling, beyond its canonical telomeric role. Moreover, it has been demonstrated to be involved in oncogenesis, progression, and chemoresistance in human cancers. Several mutations and different expression patterns of RAP1 in cancers have been reported. However, the functions and mechanisms of RAP1 in various cancers have not been extensively studied, suggesting the necessity of further investigations. In this review, we summarize the main roles of RAP1 in different mechanisms of cancer development and chemoresistance, with special emphasis on the contribution of RAP1 mutations, expression patterns, and regulation by non-coding RNA, and briefly discuss telomeric and non-telomeric functions.
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16
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Man TK, Aubert G, Richard MA, LeJeune W, Hariri E, Goltsova T, Gaikwad A, Chen Y, Whitton J, Leisenring WM, Arnold MA, Neglia JP, Yasui Y, Robison LL, Armstrong GT, Bhatia S, Gramatges MM. Short NK and naïve T-cell telomere length is associated with thyroid cancer in childhood cancer survivors: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2021; 31:453-460. [PMID: 34782395 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-21-0791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Survivors of childhood cancer are at risk for therapy-related subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMN), including thyroid SMN. Telomere length (TL) is associated with cancer risk, but the relationship between TL and SMN risk among survivors is less clear. METHODS We conducted a nested, matched case-control study of radiation-exposed 15-year+ adult survivors of childhood cancer with thyroid SMN (cases) and without SMN (controls). 46 cases were matched to 46 controls by primary diagnosis, chemotherapy (yes/no), radiation field, and follow-up duration. Lymphocyte TL (LTL) was measured by telomere flow-FISH cytometry using blood samples banked at a mean of 38.9 years (cases), 39.2 years (controls). Genetic variation in telomere genes was assessed by whole genome sequencing. Point estimates for LTL <10th percentile were determined for cases and controls. RESULTS Cases had shorter median LTL than controls in three out of four leukocyte subsets. Cases were more likely to have NK cell LTL <10th percentile (p=0.01), and 2.8-fold more likely to have naïve T-cell LTL <10th percentile than controls (CI 1.07, 8.78). Five out of 15 cases with a rare indel or missense variant had naïve T-cell LTL <10th percentile, compared with one out of 8 controls. CONCLUSIONS Long-term survivors have shorter than expected LTL, a finding that is more pronounced among survivors with thyroid SMN. IMPACT The long-term impact of childhood cancer treatment on immune function is poorly understood. Our findings support immune function studies in larger survivor cohorts to assess long-term deficits in adaptive and innate immunity that may underlie SMN risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsz-Kwong Man
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Houston, Texas
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Geraldine Aubert
- British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
- Repeat Diagnostics, Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Melissa A Richard
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Houston, Texas
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Wanda LeJeune
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Houston, Texas
| | - Elmira Hariri
- Repeat Diagnostics, Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tatiana Goltsova
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Houston, Texas
| | - Amos Gaikwad
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Houston, Texas
| | - Yan Chen
- University of Alberta School of Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jillian Whitton
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Clinical Research Division, Seattle, Washington
| | - Wendy M Leisenring
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Clinical Research Division, Seattle, Washington
| | - Michael A Arnold
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Joseph P Neglia
- University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Yutaka Yasui
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Leslie L Robison
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Gregory T Armstrong
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Smita Bhatia
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Maria M Gramatges
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Houston, Texas.
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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17
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Truderung OAH, Sagi JC, Semsei AF, Szalai C. Melanoma susceptibility: an update on genetic and epigenetic findings. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND GENETICS 2021; 12:71-89. [PMID: 34853632 PMCID: PMC8611230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is one of the most highly ranked cancers in terms of years of life lost. Hereditary melanoma with its increased familial susceptibility is thought to affect up to 12% of all melanoma patients. In the past, only a few high-penetrance genes associated with familial melanoma, such as CDKN2A and CDK4, have been clinically tested. However, findings now indicate that melanoma is a cancer most likely to develop not only due to high-penetrance variants but also due to polygenic inheritance patterns, leaving no clear division between the hereditary and sporadic development of malignant melanoma. Various pathogenic low-penetrance variants were recently discovered through genome-wide association studies, and are now translated into polygenic risk scores. These can show superior sensitivity rates for the prediction of melanoma susceptibility and related mixed cancer syndromes than risk scores based on phenotypic traits of the patients, with odds ratios of up to 5.7 for patients in risk groups. In addition to describing genetic findings, we also review the first results of epigenetic research showing constitutional methylation changes that alter the susceptibility to cutaneous melanoma and its risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole AH Truderung
- Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis UniversityH-1089 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Judit C Sagi
- Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis UniversityH-1089 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Agnes F Semsei
- Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis UniversityH-1089 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csaba Szalai
- Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis UniversityH-1089 Budapest, Hungary
- Heim Pal Children’s HospitalH-1089 Budapest, Hungary
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18
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Malchoff CD. Inherited Risk Factors for Nonmedullary Thyroid Carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:e4287-e4289. [PMID: 33739387 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carl D Malchoff
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and The Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCONN Health, Farmington, CT, USA
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19
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Abstract
Clonal haematopoiesis (CH) is a common, age-related expansion of blood cells with somatic mutations that is associated with an increased risk of haematological malignancies, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. CH may be caused by point mutations in genes associated with myeloid neoplasms, chromosomal copy number changes and loss of heterozygosity events. How inherited and environmental factors shape the incidence of CH is incompletely understood. Even though the several varieties of CH may have distinct phenotypic consequences, recent research points to an underlying genetic architecture that is highly overlapping. Moreover, there are numerous commonalities between the inherited variation associated with CH and that which has been linked to age-associated biomarkers and diseases. In this Review, we synthesize what is currently known about how inherited variation shapes the risk of CH and how this genetic architecture intersects with the biology of diseases that occur with ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Silver
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Alexander G Bick
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- Center for Immunobiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michael R Savona
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Center for Immunobiology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
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20
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Constitutional variants in POT1, TERF2IP, and ACD genes in patients with melanoma in the Polish population. Eur J Cancer Prev 2021; 29:511-519. [PMID: 32976206 DOI: 10.1097/cej.0000000000000633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Evaluation of the prevalence of POT1, ACD, and TERF2IP mutations among Polish melanoma patients. A cohort of 60 patients from melanoma-prone families, 1500 unselected cases and 1500 controls were genotyped. Methodology included Sanger sequencing, in-silico software predilection, and TaqMan assays. We identified three nonsynonymous variants: POT1 c.903 G>T; TERF2IP c.970 A>G; and ACD c.1544 T>C and a splice site variant ACD c.645 G>A. The c.903 G>T was predicted to be pathogenic according to PolyPhen-2, benign according to Mutation Taster, PROVEAN, AGVGD, and SIFT. The c.645 G>A was defined as disease caused by Mutation Taster and Human Splicing Finder and as variant of unknown significance by ClinVar. The other detected variants were described as benign. The c.903 G>T variant was present in two unselected cases and one control [P = 0.57, odds ratio (OR) = 2.00]; the c.645 G>A variant was not detected among the unselected cases and the controls; the c.970 A>G variant was present in 110 cases and 133 controls (P = 0.14, OR = 0.81); the c.1544 T>C variant was present in 687 cases and 642 controls (P = 0.11, OR = 1.07). We found no loss of heterozygosity of the c.903 G>T, c.970 A>G, and c.645 G>A variants. C.645 G>A variant had no effect on splicing or expression. The changes in POT1 c.903 G>T and ACD c.645 G>A can be classified as rare variants of unknown significance, the other variants appear to be polymorphisms. Germline mutations in POT1, ACD, and TERF2IP are infrequent among Polish melanoma patients.
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21
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Hubert JN, Suybeng V, Vallée M, Delhomme TM, Maubec E, Boland A, Bacq D, Deleuze JF, Jouenne F, Brennan P, McKay JD, Avril MF, Bressac-de Paillerets B, Chanudet E. The PI3K/mTOR Pathway Is Targeted by Rare Germline Variants in Patients with Both Melanoma and Renal Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2243. [PMID: 34067022 PMCID: PMC8125037 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Malignant melanoma and RCC have different embryonic origins, no common lifestyle risk factors but intriguingly share biological properties such as immune regulation and radioresistance. An excess risk of malignant melanoma is observed in RCC patients and vice versa. This bidirectional association is poorly understood, and hypothetic genetic co-susceptibility remains largely unexplored. Results: We hereby provide a clinical and genetic description of a series of 125 cases affected by both malignant melanoma and RCC. Clinical germline mutation testing identified a pathogenic variant in a melanoma and/or RCC predisposing gene in 17/125 cases (13.6%). This included mutually exclusive variants in MITF (p.E318K locus, N = 9 cases), BAP1 (N = 3), CDKN2A (N = 2), FLCN (N = 2), and PTEN (N = 1). A subset of 46 early-onset cases, without underlying germline variation, was whole-exome sequenced. In this series, thirteen genes were significantly enriched in mostly exclusive rare variants predicted to be deleterious, compared to 19,751 controls of similar ancestry. The observed variation mainly consisted of novel or low-frequency variants (<0.01%) within genes displaying strong evolutionary mutational constraints along the PI3K/mTOR pathway, including PIK3CD, NFRKB, EP300, MTOR, and related epigenetic modifier SETD2. The screening of independently processed germline exomes from The Cancer Genome Atlas confirmed an association with melanoma and RCC but not with cancers of established differing etiology such as lung cancers. Conclusions: Our study highlights that an exome-wide case-control enrichment approach may better characterize the rare variant-based missing heritability of multiple primary cancers. In our series, the co-occurrence of malignant melanoma and RCC was associated with germline variation in the PI3K/mTOR signaling cascade, with potential relevance for early diagnostic and clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Noël Hubert
- Section of Genetics, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO), 69372 Lyon, France; (J.-N.H.); (M.V.); (T.M.D.); (P.B.); (J.D.M.)
| | - Voreak Suybeng
- Gustave Roussy, Département de Biopathologie, 94805 Villejuif, France; (V.S.); (F.J.)
| | - Maxime Vallée
- Section of Genetics, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO), 69372 Lyon, France; (J.-N.H.); (M.V.); (T.M.D.); (P.B.); (J.D.M.)
| | - Tiffany M. Delhomme
- Section of Genetics, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO), 69372 Lyon, France; (J.-N.H.); (M.V.); (T.M.D.); (P.B.); (J.D.M.)
| | - Eve Maubec
- Department of Dermatology, AP-HP, Hôpital Avicenne, University Paris 13, 93000 Bobigny, France;
- UMRS-1124, Campus Paris Saint-Germain-des-Prés, University of Paris, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Anne Boland
- Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, 91057 Evry, France; (A.B.); (D.B.); (J.-F.D.)
| | - Delphine Bacq
- Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, 91057 Evry, France; (A.B.); (D.B.); (J.-F.D.)
| | - Jean-François Deleuze
- Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, 91057 Evry, France; (A.B.); (D.B.); (J.-F.D.)
| | - Fanélie Jouenne
- Gustave Roussy, Département de Biopathologie, 94805 Villejuif, France; (V.S.); (F.J.)
| | - Paul Brennan
- Section of Genetics, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO), 69372 Lyon, France; (J.-N.H.); (M.V.); (T.M.D.); (P.B.); (J.D.M.)
| | - James D. McKay
- Section of Genetics, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO), 69372 Lyon, France; (J.-N.H.); (M.V.); (T.M.D.); (P.B.); (J.D.M.)
| | | | - Brigitte Bressac-de Paillerets
- Gustave Roussy, Département de Biopathologie, 94805 Villejuif, France; (V.S.); (F.J.)
- INSERM U1279, Tumor Cell Dynamics, 94805 Villejuif, France
| | - Estelle Chanudet
- Section of Genetics, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO), 69372 Lyon, France; (J.-N.H.); (M.V.); (T.M.D.); (P.B.); (J.D.M.)
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22
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Kim WT, Hennick K, Johnson J, Finnerty B, Choo S, Short SB, Drubin C, Forster R, McMaster ML, Hockemeyer D. Cancer-associated POT1 mutations lead to telomere elongation without induction of a DNA damage response. EMBO J 2021; 40:e107346. [PMID: 33934394 PMCID: PMC8204863 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020107346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the shelterin protein POT1 are associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Hodgkin lymphoma, angiosarcoma, melanoma, and other cancers. These cancer‐associated POT1 (caPOT1) mutations are generally heterozygous, missense, or nonsense mutations occurring throughout the POT1 reading frame. Cancers with caPOT1 mutations have elongated telomeres and show increased genomic instability, but which of the two phenotypes promotes tumorigenesis is unclear. We tested the effects of CAS9‐engineered caPOT1 mutations in human embryonic and hematopoietic stem cells (hESCs and HSCs, respectively). HSCs with caPOT1 mutations did not show overt telomere damage. In vitro and in vivo competition experiments showed the caPOT1 mutations did not confer a selective disadvantage. Since DNA damage signaling is known to affect the fitness of HSCs, the data argue that caPOT1 mutations do not cause significant telomere damage. Furthermore, hESC lines with caPOT1 mutations showed no detectable telomere damage response while showing consistent telomere elongation. Thus, caPOT1 mutations are likely selected for during cancer progression because of their ability to elongate telomeres and extend the proliferative capacity of the incipient cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won-Tae Kim
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kelsey Hennick
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Joshua Johnson
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Brendan Finnerty
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Seunga Choo
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Sarah B Short
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Casey Drubin
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ryan Forster
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mary L McMaster
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Dirk Hockemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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23
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Diquigiovanni C, Bonora E. Genetics of Familial Non-Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (FNMTC). Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2178. [PMID: 33946592 PMCID: PMC8125431 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-medullary thyroid carcinoma (NMTC) is the most frequent endocrine tumor and originates from the follicular epithelial cells of the thyroid. Familial NMTC (FNMTC) has been defined in pedigrees where two or more first-degree relatives of the patient present the disease in absence of other predisposing environmental factors. Compared to sporadic cases, FNMTCs are often multifocal, recurring more frequently and showing an early age at onset with a worse outcome. FNMTC cases show a high degree of genetic heterogeneity, thus impairing the identification of the underlying molecular causes. Over the last two decades, many efforts in identifying the susceptibility genes in large pedigrees were carried out using linkage-based approaches and genome-wide association studies, leading to the identification of susceptibility loci and variants associated with NMTC risk. The introduction of next-generation sequencing technologies has greatly contributed to the elucidation of FNMTC predisposition, leading to the identification of novel candidate variants, shortening the time and cost of gene tests. In this review we report the most significant genes identified for the FNMTC predisposition. Integrating these new molecular findings in the clinical data of patients is fundamental for an early detection and the development of tailored therapies, in order to optimize patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Diquigiovanni
- Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
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24
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Henslee G, Williams CL, Liu P, Bertuch AA. Identification and characterization of novel ACD variants: modulation of TPP1 protein level offsets the impact of germline loss-of-function variants on telomere length. Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud 2021; 7:a005454. [PMID: 33446513 PMCID: PMC7903889 DOI: 10.1101/mcs.a005454] [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: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere biology disorders, largely characterized by telomere lengths below the first centile for age, are caused by variants in genes associated with telomere replication, structure, or function. One of these genes, ACD, which encodes the shelterin protein TPP1, is associated with both autosomal dominantly and autosomal recessively inherited telomere biology disorders. TPP1 recruits telomerase to telomeres and stimulates telomerase processivity. Several studies probing the effect of various synthetic or patient-derived variants have mapped specific residues and regions of TPP1 that are important for interaction with TERT, the catalytic component of telomerase. However, these studies have come to differing conclusions regarding ACD haploinsufficiency. Here, we report a proband with compound heterozygous novel variants in ACD (NM_001082486.1)-c.505_507delGAG, p.(Glu169del); and c.619delG, p.(Asp207Thrfs*22)-and a second proband with a heterozygous chromosomal deletion encompassing ACD: arr[hg19] 16q22.1(67,628,846-67,813,408)x1. Clinical data, including symptoms and telomere length within the pedigrees, suggested that loss of one ACD allele was insufficient to induce telomere shortening or confer clinical features. Further analyses of lymphoblastoid cell lines showed decreased nascent ACD RNA and steady-state mRNA, but normal TPP1 protein levels, in cells containing heterozygous ACD c.619delG, p.(Asp207Thrfs*22), or the ACD-encompassing chromosomal deletion compared to controls. Based on our results, we conclude that cells are able to compensate for loss of one ACD allele by activating a mechanism to maintain TPP1 protein levels, thus maintaining normal telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Henslee
- Baylor College of Medicine, Integrated Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital, Cancer and Hematology Centers, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Christopher L Williams
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital, Cancer and Hematology Centers, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Baylor Genetics, Houston, Texas 77021, USA
| | - Alison A Bertuch
- Baylor College of Medicine, Integrated Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital, Cancer and Hematology Centers, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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25
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Capezzone M, Sagnella A, Pilli T, Maino F, Forleo R, Cantara S, Cartocci A, Castagna MG. Role of Age at Diagnosis in Defining Potential Familial Nonmedullary Thyroid Cancer in Kindreds With Two Affected Members. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:e855-e865. [PMID: 33175120 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The definition of familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC) in 2 or more first-degree relatives is controversial due to the high probability of observing a sporadic association when only 2 members of first-degree relatives are affected. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of age at diagnosis in differentiating the true cases of FNMTC. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND MAIN OUTCOME From a group of 721 papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients, 95 familial PTC (FPTC) patients with 2 first-degree relatives have been identified. They were split in 2 groups: Group 1 consisted of both the proband and the affected relative, with age at diagnosis ≤ 45 years; Group 2 consisted of proband and/or the affected family member, with age at diagnosis > 45 years. The clinical-pathological features and outcome of both FPTC groups were compared with 626 sporadic PTC patients (SPTC). RESULTS Familial PTC patients with age at diagnosis ≤ 45 years, compared with the matched group of sporadic PTCs, had a more frequent multifocal, bilateral, and extrathyroidal extension of tumor and showed worse outcome. No differences were found between FPTC and SPTC patients with age > 45 years. At multivariate analysis, distant metastases, American Thyroid Association (ATA) risk, and FPTC ≤ 45 years were independent predictors of outcome. CONCLUSIONS Based on the observation that PTC is more aggressive when the diagnosis is made in 2 family members, both with age < 45years, we suggest that the definition of FPTC in kindreds with 2 affected members should also take into account the age at diagnosis as a key element of familial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Capezzone
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Alfonso Sagnella
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Tania Pilli
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Fabio Maino
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Raffaella Forleo
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Silvia Cantara
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | - Maria Grazia Castagna
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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26
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Schmutz I, Mensenkamp AR, Takai KK, Haadsma M, Spruijt L, de Voer RM, Choo SS, Lorbeer FK, van Grinsven EJ, Hockemeyer D, Jongmans MCJ, de Lange T. TINF2 is a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor that limits telomere length. eLife 2020; 9:e61235. [PMID: 33258446 PMCID: PMC7707837 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere shortening is a presumed tumor suppressor pathway that imposes a proliferative barrier (the Hayflick limit) during tumorigenesis. This model predicts that excessively long somatic telomeres predispose to cancer. Here, we describe cancer-prone families with two unique TINF2 mutations that truncate TIN2, a shelterin subunit that controls telomere length. Patient lymphocyte telomeres were unusually long. We show that the truncated TIN2 proteins do not localize to telomeres, suggesting that the mutations create loss-of-function alleles. Heterozygous knock-in of the mutations or deletion of one copy of TINF2 resulted in excessive telomere elongation in clonal lines, indicating that TINF2 is haploinsufficient for telomere length control. In contrast, telomere protection and genome stability were maintained in all heterozygous clones. The data establish that the TINF2 truncations predispose to a tumor syndrome. We conclude that TINF2 acts as a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor that limits telomere length to ensure a timely Hayflick limit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Schmutz
- Laboratory for Cell Biology and Genetics, Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Arjen R Mensenkamp
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Kaori K Takai
- Laboratory for Cell Biology and Genetics, Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Maaike Haadsma
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Liesbeth Spruijt
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Richarda M de Voer
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Seunga Sara Choo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Franziska K Lorbeer
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Emma J van Grinsven
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Dirk Hockemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
- Chan Zuckerberg BiohubSan FranciscoUnited States
| | | | - Titia de Lange
- Laboratory for Cell Biology and Genetics, Rockefeller UniversityNew YorkUnited States
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27
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Miasaki FY, Fuziwara CS, de Carvalho GA, Kimura ET. Genetic Mutations and Variants in the Susceptibility of Familial Non-Medullary Thyroid Cancer. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E1364. [PMID: 33218058 PMCID: PMC7698903 DOI: 10.3390/genes11111364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancer is the most frequent endocrine malignancy with the majority of cases derived from thyroid follicular cells and caused by sporadic mutations. However, when at least two or more first degree relatives present thyroid cancer, it is classified as familial non-medullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC) that may comprise 3-9% of all thyroid cancer. In this context, 5% of FNMTC are related to hereditary syndromes such as Cowden and Werner Syndromes, displaying specific genetic predisposition factors. On the other hand, the other 95% of cases are classified as non-syndromic FNMTC. Over the last 20 years, several candidate genes emerged in different studies of families worldwide. Nevertheless, the identification of a prevalent polymorphism or germinative mutation has not progressed in FNMTC. In this work, an overview of genetic alteration related to syndromic and non-syndromic FNMTC is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabíola Yukiko Miasaki
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SEMPR), Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 80030-110, Brazil; (F.Y.M.); (G.A.d.C.)
| | - Cesar Seigi Fuziwara
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Gisah Amaral de Carvalho
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SEMPR), Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 80030-110, Brazil; (F.Y.M.); (G.A.d.C.)
| | - Edna Teruko Kimura
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
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28
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Identification of Germline Mutations in Melanoma Patients with Early Onset, Double Primary Tumors, or Family Cancer History by NGS Analysis of 217 Genes. Biomedicines 2020; 8:biomedicines8100404. [PMID: 33050356 PMCID: PMC7601281 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8100404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is the deadliest skin malignity with a rising prevalence worldwide. Patients carrying germline mutations in melanoma-susceptibility genes face an increased risk of melanoma and other cancers. To assess the spectrum of germline variants, we analyzed 264 Czech melanoma patients indicated for testing due to early melanoma (at <25 years) or the presence of multiple primary melanoma/melanoma and other cancer in their personal and/or family history. All patients were analyzed by panel next-generation sequencing targeting 217 genes in four groups: high-to-moderate melanoma risk genes, low melanoma risk genes, cancer syndrome genes, and other genes with an uncertain melanoma risk. Population frequencies were assessed in 1479 population-matched controls. Selected POT1 and CHEK2 variants were characterized by functional assays. Mutations in clinically relevant genes were significantly more frequent in melanoma patients than in controls (31/264; 11.7% vs. 58/1479; 3.9%; p = 2.0 × 10−6). A total of 9 patients (3.4%) carried mutations in high-to-moderate melanoma risk genes (CDKN2A, POT1, ACD) and 22 (8.3%) patients in other cancer syndrome genes (NBN, BRCA1/2, CHEK2, ATM, WRN, RB1). Mutations in high-to-moderate melanoma risk genes (OR = 52.2; 95%CI 6.6–413.1; p = 3.2 × 10−7) and in other cancer syndrome genes (OR = 2.3; 95%CI 1.4–3.8; p = 0.003) were significantly associated with melanoma risk. We found an increased potential to carry these mutations (OR = 2.9; 95%CI 1.2–6.8) in patients with double primary melanoma, melanoma and other primary cancer, but not in patients with early age at onset. The analysis revealed affected genes in Czech melanoma patients and identified individuals who may benefit from genetic testing and future surveillance management of mutation carriers.
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