1
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Robertson R, Li S, Filippelli RL, Chang NC. Muscle stem cell dysfunction in rhabdomyosarcoma and muscular dystrophy. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 158:83-121. [PMID: 38670717 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Muscle stem cells (MuSCs) are crucial to the repair and homeostasis of mature skeletal muscle. MuSC dysfunction and dysregulation of the myogenic program can contribute to the development of pathology ranging from cancers like rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) or muscle degenerative diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Both diseases exhibit dysregulation at nearly all steps of myogenesis. For instance, MuSC self-renewal processes are altered. In RMS, this leads to the creation of tumor propagating cells. In DMD, impaired asymmetric stem cell division creates a bias towards producing self-renewing stem cells instead of committing to differentiation. Hyperproliferation of these cells contribute to tumorigenesis in RMS and symmetric expansion of the self-renewing MuSC population in DMD. Both diseases also exhibit a repression of factors involved in terminal differentiation, halting RMS cells in the proliferative stage and thus driving tumor growth. Conversely, the MuSCs in DMD exhibit impaired differentiation and fuse prematurely, affecting myonuclei maturation and the integrity of the dystrophic muscle fiber. Finally, both disease states cause alterations to the MuSC niche. Various elements of the niche such as inflammatory and migratory signaling that impact MuSC behavior are dysregulated. Here we show how these seemingly distantly related diseases indeed have similarities in MuSC dysfunction, underlying the importance of considering MuSCs when studying the pathophysiology of muscle diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Robertson
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Shulei Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Romina L Filippelli
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Natasha C Chang
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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2
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Kalita B, Sahu S, Bharadwaj A, Panneerselvam L, Martinez-Cebrian G, Agarwal M, Mathew SJ. The Wnt-pathway corepressor TLE3 interacts with the histone methyltransferase KMT1A to inhibit differentiation in Rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncogene 2024; 43:524-538. [PMID: 38177411 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02911-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cells resemble differentiating skeletal muscle cells, which unlike normal muscle cells, fail to undergo terminal differentiation, underlying their proliferative and metastatic properties. We identify the corepressor TLE3 as a key regulator of rhabdomyosarcoma tumorigenesis by inhibiting the Wnt-pathway. Loss of TLE3 function leads to Wnt-pathway activation, reduced proliferation, decreased migration, and enhanced differentiation in rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Muscle-specific TLE3-knockout results in enhanced expression of terminal myogenic differentiation markers during normal mouse development. TLE3-knockout rhabdomyosarcoma cell xenografts result in significantly smaller tumors characterized by reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis and enhanced differentiation. We demonstrate that TLE3 interacts with and recruits the histone methyltransferase KMT1A, leading to repression of target gene activation and inhibition of differentiation in rhabdomyosarcoma. A combination drug therapy regime to promote Wnt-pathway activation by the small molecule BIO and inhibit KMT1A by the drug chaetocin led to significantly reduced tumor volume, decreased proliferation, increased expression of differentiation markers and increased survival in rhabdomyosarcoma tumor-bearing mice. Thus, TLE3, the Wnt-pathway and KMT1A are excellent drug targets which can be exploited for treating rhabdomyosarcoma tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhargab Kalita
- Developmental Genetics Laboratory Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) NCR Biotech Science Cluster 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
- Department of Pathology and Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Subhashni Sahu
- Developmental Genetics Laboratory Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) NCR Biotech Science Cluster 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Anushree Bharadwaj
- Developmental Genetics Laboratory Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) NCR Biotech Science Cluster 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Lakshmikanthan Panneerselvam
- Developmental Genetics Laboratory Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) NCR Biotech Science Cluster 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | | | - Megha Agarwal
- Developmental Genetics Laboratory Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) NCR Biotech Science Cluster 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
- Affiliated to Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sam J Mathew
- Developmental Genetics Laboratory Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) NCR Biotech Science Cluster 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India.
- Affiliated to Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.
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3
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Pomella S, Danielli SG, Alaggio R, Breunis WB, Hamed E, Selfe J, Wachtel M, Walters ZS, Schäfer BW, Rota R, Shipley JM, Hettmer S. Genomic and Epigenetic Changes Drive Aberrant Skeletal Muscle Differentiation in Rhabdomyosarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2823. [PMID: 37345159 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102823] [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: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents, represents an aberrant form of skeletal muscle differentiation. Both skeletal muscle development, as well as regeneration of adult skeletal muscle are governed by members of the myogenic family of regulatory transcription factors (MRFs), which are deployed in a highly controlled, multi-step, bidirectional process. Many aspects of this complex process are deregulated in RMS and contribute to tumorigenesis. Interconnected loops of super-enhancers, called core regulatory circuitries (CRCs), define aberrant muscle differentiation in RMS cells. The transcriptional regulation of MRF expression/activity takes a central role in the CRCs active in skeletal muscle and RMS. In PAX3::FOXO1 fusion-positive (PF+) RMS, CRCs maintain expression of the disease-driving fusion oncogene. Recent single-cell studies have revealed hierarchically organized subsets of cells within the RMS cell pool, which recapitulate developmental myogenesis and appear to drive malignancy. There is a large interest in exploiting the causes of aberrant muscle development in RMS to allow for terminal differentiation as a therapeutic strategy, for example, by interrupting MEK/ERK signaling or by interfering with the epigenetic machinery controlling CRCs. In this review, we provide an overview of the genetic and epigenetic framework of abnormal muscle differentiation in RMS, as it provides insights into fundamental mechanisms of RMS malignancy, its remarkable phenotypic diversity and, ultimately, opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pomella
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS Istituto Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu, Viale San Paolo 15, 00146 Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara G Danielli
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, 8032 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Rita Alaggio
- Department of Pathology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Viale San Paolo 15, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Willemijn B Breunis
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, 8032 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ebrahem Hamed
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Joanna Selfe
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 FNG, UK
| | - Marco Wachtel
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, 8032 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Zoe S Walters
- Translational Epigenomics Team, Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Beat W Schäfer
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, 8032 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS Istituto Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu, Viale San Paolo 15, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Janet M Shipley
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 FNG, UK
| | - Simone Hettmer
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre Freiburg (CCCF), University Medical Center Freiburg, 790106 Freiburg, Germany
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4
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Laubscher D, Gryder BE, Sunkel BD, Andresson T, Wachtel M, Das S, Roschitzki B, Wolski W, Wu XS, Chou HC, Song YK, Wang C, Wei JS, Wang M, Wen X, Ngo QA, Marques JG, Vakoc CR, Schäfer BW, Stanton BZ, Khan J. BAF complexes drive proliferation and block myogenic differentiation in fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6924. [PMID: 34836971 PMCID: PMC8626462 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27176-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric malignancy of skeletal muscle lineage. The aggressive alveolar subtype is characterized by t(2;13) or t(1;13) translocations encoding for PAX3- or PAX7-FOXO1 chimeric transcription factors, respectively, and are referred to as fusion positive RMS (FP-RMS). The fusion gene alters the myogenic program and maintains the proliferative state while blocking terminal differentiation. Here, we investigated the contributions of chromatin regulatory complexes to FP-RMS tumor maintenance. We define the mSWI/SNF functional repertoire in FP-RMS. We find that SMARCA4 (encoding BRG1) is overexpressed in this malignancy compared to skeletal muscle and is essential for cell proliferation. Proteomic studies suggest proximity between PAX3-FOXO1 and BAF complexes, which is further supported by genome-wide binding profiles revealing enhancer colocalization of BAF with core regulatory transcription factors. Further, mSWI/SNF complexes localize to sites of de novo histone acetylation. Phenotypically, interference with mSWI/SNF complex function induces transcriptional activation of the skeletal muscle differentiation program associated with MYCN enhancer invasion at myogenic target genes, which is recapitulated by BRG1 targeting compounds. We conclude that inhibition of BRG1 overcomes the differentiation blockade of FP-RMS cells and may provide a therapeutic strategy for this lethal childhood tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Laubscher
- grid.412341.10000 0001 0726 4330Department of Oncology and Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Berkley E. Gryder
- grid.48336.3a0000 0004 1936 8075Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD USA ,grid.67105.350000 0001 2164 3847Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH USA
| | - Benjamin D. Sunkel
- grid.240344.50000 0004 0392 3476Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Columbus, OH USA
| | - Thorkell Andresson
- grid.418021.e0000 0004 0535 8394Protein Characterization Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD USA
| | - Marco Wachtel
- grid.412341.10000 0001 0726 4330Department of Oncology and Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sudipto Das
- grid.418021.e0000 0004 0535 8394Protein Characterization Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD USA
| | - Bernd Roschitzki
- grid.7400.30000 0004 1937 0650Functional Genomics Center, University of Zurich/ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Witold Wolski
- grid.7400.30000 0004 1937 0650Functional Genomics Center, University of Zurich/ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xiaoli S. Wu
- grid.225279.90000 0004 0387 3667Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 USA
| | - Hsien-Chao Chou
- grid.48336.3a0000 0004 1936 8075Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Young K. Song
- grid.48336.3a0000 0004 1936 8075Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Chaoyu Wang
- grid.48336.3a0000 0004 1936 8075Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Jun S. Wei
- grid.48336.3a0000 0004 1936 8075Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Meng Wang
- grid.240344.50000 0004 0392 3476Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Columbus, OH USA
| | - Xinyu Wen
- grid.48336.3a0000 0004 1936 8075Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD USA
| | - Quy Ai Ngo
- grid.412341.10000 0001 0726 4330Department of Oncology and Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Joana G. Marques
- grid.412341.10000 0001 0726 4330Department of Oncology and Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christopher R. Vakoc
- grid.225279.90000 0004 0387 3667Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 USA
| | - Beat W. Schäfer
- grid.412341.10000 0001 0726 4330Department of Oncology and Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Z. Stanton
- grid.240344.50000 0004 0392 3476Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Columbus, OH USA ,grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH USA ,grid.261331.40000 0001 2285 7943Department of Biological Chemistry & Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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5
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Walters ZS, Aladowicz E, Villarejo-Balcells B, Nugent G, Selfe JL, Eve P, Blagg J, Rossanese O, Shipley J. Role for the Histone Demethylase KDM4B in Rhabdomyosarcoma via CDK6 and CCNA2: Compensation by KDM4A and Apoptotic Response of Targeting Both KDM4B and KDM4A. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1734. [PMID: 33917420 PMCID: PMC8038694 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone demethylases are epigenetic modulators that play key roles in regulating gene expression related to many critical cellular functions and are emerging as promising therapeutic targets in a number of tumor types. We previously identified histone demethylase family members as overexpressed in the pediatric sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma. Here we show high sensitivity of rhabdomyosarcoma cells to a pan-histone demethylase inhibitor, JIB-04 and identify a key role for the histone demethylase KDM4B in rhabdomyosarcoma cell growth through an RNAi-screening approach. Decreasing KDM4B levels affected cell cycle progression and transcription of G1/S and G2/M checkpoint genes including CDK6 and CCNA2, which are bound by KDM4B in their promoter regions. However, after sustained knockdown of KDM4B, rhabdomyosarcoma cell growth recovered. We show that this can be attributed to acquired molecular compensation via recruitment of KDM4A to the promoter regions of CDK6 and CCNA2 that are otherwise bound by KDM4B. Furthermore, upfront silencing of both KDM4B and KDM4A led to RMS cell apoptosis, not seen by reducing either alone. To circumvent compensation and elicit stronger therapeutic responses, our study supports targeting histone demethylase sub-family proteins through selective poly-pharmacology as a therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoë S. Walters
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London SM2 5NG, UK; (Z.S.W.); (E.A.); (B.V.-B.); (J.L.S.)
- Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Ewa Aladowicz
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London SM2 5NG, UK; (Z.S.W.); (E.A.); (B.V.-B.); (J.L.S.)
| | - Barbara Villarejo-Balcells
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London SM2 5NG, UK; (Z.S.W.); (E.A.); (B.V.-B.); (J.L.S.)
| | - Gary Nugent
- Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London SM2 5NG, UK; (G.N.); (P.E.); (J.B.); (O.R.)
| | - Joanna L. Selfe
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London SM2 5NG, UK; (Z.S.W.); (E.A.); (B.V.-B.); (J.L.S.)
| | - Paul Eve
- Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London SM2 5NG, UK; (G.N.); (P.E.); (J.B.); (O.R.)
| | - Julian Blagg
- Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London SM2 5NG, UK; (G.N.); (P.E.); (J.B.); (O.R.)
| | - Olivia Rossanese
- Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London SM2 5NG, UK; (G.N.); (P.E.); (J.B.); (O.R.)
| | - Janet Shipley
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London SM2 5NG, UK; (Z.S.W.); (E.A.); (B.V.-B.); (J.L.S.)
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6
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Xie J, Lin L, Sánchez OF, Bryan C, Freeman JL, Yuan C. Pre-differentiation exposure to low-dose of atrazine results in persistent phenotypic changes in human neuronal cell lines. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 271:116379. [PMID: 33388679 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Exposures to organic pesticides, particularly during a developmental window, have been associated with various neurodegenerative diseases later in life. Atrazine (ATZ), one of the most used pesticides in the U.S., is suspected to be associated with increased neurodegeneration later in life but few studies assessed the neurotoxicity of developmental ATZ exposure using human neuronal cells. Here, we exposed human SH-SY5Y cells to 0.3, 3, and 30 ppb of ATZ prior to differentiating them into dopaminergic-like neurons in ATZ-free medium to mimic developmental exposure. The differentiated neurons exhibit altered neurite outgrowth and SNCA pathology depending on the ATZ treatment doses. Epigenome changes, such as decreases in 5mC (for 0.3 ppb only), H3K9me3, and H3K27me3 were observed immediately after exposure. These alterations persist in a compensatory manner in differentiated neurons. Specifically, we observed significant reductions in 5mC and H3K9me3, as well as, an increase in H3K27me3 in ATZ-exposed cells after differentiation, suggesting substantial chromatin rearrangements after developmental ATZ exposure. Transcriptional changes of relevant epigenetic enzymes were also quantified but found to only partially explain the observed epigenome alteration. Our results thus collectively suggest that exposure to low-dose of ATZ prior to differentiation can result in long-lasting changes in epigenome and increase risks of SNCA-related Parkinson's Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junkai Xie
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Li Lin
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Oscar F Sánchez
- Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, 110231, Colombia
| | - Chris Bryan
- Department of Statistics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jennifer L Freeman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA; Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Chongli Yuan
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA; Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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7
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Slemmons KK, Deel MD, Lin YT, Oristian KM, Kuprasertkul N, Genadry KC, Chen PH, Chi JTA, Linardic CM. A method to culture human alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines as rhabdospheres demonstrates an enrichment in stemness and Notch signaling. Biol Open 2021; 10:bio.050211. [PMID: 33372065 PMCID: PMC7888706 DOI: 10.1242/bio.050211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of three-dimensional cell culture techniques has allowed cancer researchers to study the stemness properties of cancer cells in in vitro culture. However, a method to grow PAX3-FOXO1 fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma (FP-RMS), an aggressive soft tissue sarcoma of childhood, has to date not been reported, hampering efforts to identify the dysregulated signaling pathways that underlie FP-RMS stemness. Here, we first examine the expression of canonical stem cell markers in human RMS tumors and cell lines. We then describe a method to grow FP-RMS cell lines as rhabdospheres and demonstrate that these spheres are enriched in expression of canonical stemness factors as well as Notch signaling components. Specifically, FP-RMS rhabdospheres have increased expression of SOX2, POU5F1 (OCT4), and NANOG, and several receptors and transcriptional regulators in the Notch signaling pathway. FP-RMS rhabdospheres also exhibit functional stemness characteristics including multipotency, increased tumorigenicity in vivo, and chemoresistance. This method provides a novel practical tool to support research into FP-RMS stemness and chemoresistance signaling mechanisms. Summary: Here we report on a method to culture human PAX3-FOXO1 fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma cells in three dimensions, and use these rhabdospheres as a novel tool to study their stemness and chemoresistance signaling mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine K Slemmons
- Departments of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Michael D Deel
- Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Yi-Tzu Lin
- Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Kristianne M Oristian
- Departments of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.,Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Katia C Genadry
- Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Po-Han Chen
- Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jen-Tsan Ashley Chi
- Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Corinne M Linardic
- Departments of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina .,Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
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8
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Yang Z, Wang H, Zhang N, Xing T, Zhang W, Wang G, Li C, Yu C. Chaetocin Abrogates the Self-Renewal of Bladder Cancer Stem Cells via the Suppression of the KMT1A-GATA3-STAT3 Circuit. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:424. [PMID: 32626701 PMCID: PMC7311639 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer stem cells (BCSCs) have the abilities of self-renewal, differentiation, and metastasis; confer drug resistance; and exhibit high tumorigenicity. We previously identified that the KMT1A–GATA3–STAT3 axis drives the self-renewal of BCSCs. However, the therapeutic effect of targeting KMT1A in BCSCs remains unknown. In this study, we confirmed that the expression of KMT1A was remarkably higher in BCSCs (3–5-fold) than those in bladder cancer non-stem cells or normal bladder epithelial cells. Among the six KMT1A inhibitors, chaetocin significantly suppressed the cell propagation (inhibition ratio: 65%–88%, IC50 = 24.4–32.5 nM), induced apoptosis (2–5-fold), and caused G1 phase cell cycle arrest (68.9 vs 55.5%) of bladder cancer (BC) cells, without influencing normal bladder epithelial cells. More importantly, chaetocin abrogated the self-renewal of BCSCs (inhibition ratio: 80.1%) via the suppression of the KMT1A–GATA3–STAT3 circuit and other stemness-related pathways. Finally, intravesical instillation of chaetocin remarkably inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors (inhibition ratio: 71–82%) and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice (70 vs 53 days). In sum, chaetocin abrogated the stemness maintenance and tumor growth of BCSCs via the suppression of the KMT1A–GATA3–STAT3 circuit. Chaetocin is an effective inhibitor targeting KMT1A in BCSCs and could be a promising therapeutic strategy for BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Yang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Haifeng Wang
- Department of Urology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Tianying Xing
- Department of Urology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Guoqing Wang
- Department of Pathogenobiology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Chong Li
- Core Facility for Protein Research, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Changyuan Yu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
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9
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Pal A, Chiu HY, Taneja R. Genetics, epigenetics and redox homeostasis in rhabdomyosarcoma: Emerging targets and therapeutics. Redox Biol 2019; 25:101124. [PMID: 30709791 PMCID: PMC6859585 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2019.101124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 01/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma accounting for 5-8% of malignant tumours in children and adolescents. Children with high risk disease have poor prognosis. Anti-RMS therapies include surgery, radiation and combination chemotherapy. While these strategies improved survival rates, they have plateaued since 1990s as drugs that target differentiation and self-renewal of tumours cells have not been identified. Moreover, prevailing treatments are aggressive with drug resistance and metastasis causing failure of several treatment regimes. Significant advances have been made recently in understanding the genetic and epigenetic landscape in RMS. These studies have identified novel diagnostic and prognostic markers and opened new avenues for treatment. An important target identified in high throughput drug screening studies is reactive oxygen species (ROS). Indeed, many drugs in clinical trials for RMS impact tumour progression through ROS. In light of such emerging evidence, we discuss recent findings highlighting key pathways, epigenetic alterations and their impacts on ROS that form the basis of developing novel molecularly targeted therapies in RMS. Such targeted therapies in combination with conventional therapy could reduce adverse side effects in young survivors and lead to a decline in long-term morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Pal
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
| | - Hsin Yao Chiu
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
| | - Reshma Taneja
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore.
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10
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Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and represents a high-grade neoplasm of skeletal myoblast-like cells. Decades of clinical and basic research have gradually improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of RMS and helped to optimize clinical care. The two major subtypes of RMS, originally characterized on the basis of light microscopic features, are driven by fundamentally different molecular mechanisms and pose distinct clinical challenges. Curative therapy depends on control of the primary tumour, which can arise at many distinct anatomical sites, as well as controlling disseminated disease that is known or assumed to be present in every case. Sophisticated risk stratification for children with RMS incorporates various clinical, pathological and molecular features, and that information is used to guide the application of multifaceted therapy. Such therapy has historically included cytotoxic chemotherapy as well as surgery, ionizing radiation or both. This Primer describes our current understanding of RMS epidemiology, disease susceptibility factors, disease mechanisms and elements of clinical care, including diagnostics, risk-based care of newly diagnosed and relapsed disease and the prevention and management of late effects in survivors. We also outline potential opportunities to further translate new biological insights into improved clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen X Skapek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Andrea Ferrari
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Abha A Gupta
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Philip J Lupo
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Erin Butler
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Janet Shipley
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Belmont, UK
| | - Frederic G Barr
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Douglas S Hawkins
- Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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11
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Wolff DW, Lee MH, Jothi M, Mal M, Li F, Mal AK. Camptothecin exhibits topoisomerase1-independent KMT1A suppression and myogenic differentiation in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Oncotarget 2018; 9:25796-25807. [PMID: 29899822 PMCID: PMC5995248 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS) is an aggressive subtype of the most common soft tissue cancer in children. A hallmark of aRMS tumors is incomplete myogenic differentiation despite expression of master myogenic regulators such as MyoD. We previously reported that histone methyltransferase KMT1A suppresses MyoD function to maintain an undifferentiated state in aRMS cells, and that loss of KMT1A is sufficient to induce differentiation and suppress malignant phenotypes in these cells. Here, we develop a chemical compound screening approach using MyoD-responsive luciferase reporter myoblast cells to identify compounds that alleviate suppression of MyoD-mediated differentiation by KMT1A. A screen of pharmacological compounds yielded the topoisomerase I (TOP1) poison camptothecin (CPT) as the strongest hit in our assay system. Furthermore, treatment of aRMS cells with clinically relevant CPT derivative irinotecan restores MyoD function, and myogenic differentiation in vitro and in a xenograft model. This differentiated phenotype was associated with downregulation of the KMT1A protein. Remarkably, loss of KMT1A in CPT-treated cells occurs independently of its well-known anti-TOP1 mechanism. We further demonstrate that CPT can directly inhibit KMT1A activity in vitro. Collectively, these findings uncover a novel function of CPT that downregulates KMT1A independently of CPT-mediated TOP1 inhibition and permits differentiation of aRMS cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W. Wolff
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Min-Hyung Lee
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
- Current address: Division of Biotechnology Review and Research IV, Office of Biotechnology Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Mathivanan Jothi
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
- Current address: Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, KA 560029, India
| | - Munmun Mal
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Fengzhi Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Asoke K. Mal
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
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12
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Acquisition of an oncogenic fusion protein is sufficient to globally alter the landscape of miRNA expression to inhibit myogenic differentiation. Oncotarget 2017; 8:87054-87072. [PMID: 29152063 PMCID: PMC5675615 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19693] [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: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The differentiation status of tumors is used as a prognostic indicator, with tumors comprised of less differentiated cells exhibiting higher levels of aggressiveness that correlate with a poor prognosis. Although oncogenes contribute to blocking differentiation, it is not clear how they globally alter miRNA expression during differentiation to achieve this result. The pediatric sarcoma Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, which is primarily characterized by the expression of the PAX3-FOXO1 oncogenic fusion protein, consists of undifferentiated muscle cells. However, it is unclear what role PAX3-FOXO1 plays in promoting the undifferentiated state. We demonstrate that expression of PAX3-FOXO1 globally alters the expression of over 80 individual miRNA during early myogenic differentiation, resulting in three primary effects: 1) inhibition of the expression of 51 miRNA essential for promoting myogenesis, 2) promoting the aberrant expression of 43 miRNA not normally expressed during myogenesis, and 3) altering the expression pattern of 39 additional miRNA. Combined, these changes are predicted to have an overall negative effect on myogenic differentiation. This is one of the first studies describing how an oncogene globally alters miRNA expression to block differentiation and has clinical implications for the development of much needed multi-faceted tumor-specific therapeutic regimens.
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13
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Böhm M, Wachtel M, Marques JG, Streiff N, Laubscher D, Nanni P, Mamchaoui K, Santoro R, Schäfer BW. Helicase CHD4 is an epigenetic coregulator of PAX3-FOXO1 in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:4237-4249. [PMID: 27760049 DOI: 10.1172/jci85057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A vast number of cancer genes are transcription factors that drive tumorigenesis as oncogenic fusion proteins. Although the direct targeting of transcription factors remains challenging, therapies aimed at oncogenic fusion proteins are attractive as potential treatments for cancer. There is particular interest in targeting the oncogenic PAX3-FOXO1 fusion transcription factor, which induces alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS), an aggressive cancer of skeletal muscle cells for which patient outcomes remain dismal. In this work, we have defined the interactome of PAX3-FOXO1 and screened 60 candidate interactors using siRNA-mediated depletion to identify candidates that affect fusion protein activity in aRMS cells. We report that chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 4 (CHD4), an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler, acts as crucial coregulator of PAX3-FOXO1 activity. CHD4 interacts with PAX3-FOXO1 via short DNA fragments. Together, they bind to regulatory regions of PAX3-FOXO1 target genes. Gene expression analysis suggested that CHD4 coregulatory activity is essential for a subset of PAX3-FOXO1 target genes. Depletion of CHD4 reduced cell viability of fusion-positive but not of fusion-negative RMS in vitro, which resembled loss of PAX3-FOXO1. It also caused specific regression of fusion-positive xenograft tumors in vivo. Therefore, this work identifies CHD4 as an epigenetic coregulator of PAX3-FOXO1 activity, providing rational evidence for CHD4 as a potential therapeutic target in aRMS.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Autoantigens/genetics
- Autoantigens/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Heterografts
- Humans
- Mi-2 Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylase Complex/genetics
- Mi-2 Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylase Complex/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, SCID
- Neoplasm Transplantation
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/metabolism
- Paired Box Transcription Factors/genetics
- Paired Box Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar/genetics
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar/metabolism
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar/pathology
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14
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Bharathy N, Suriyamurthy S, Rao VK, Ow JR, Lim HJ, Chakraborty P, Vasudevan M, Dhamne CA, Chang KTE, Min VLK, Kundu TK, Taneja R. P/CAF mediates PAX3-FOXO1-dependent oncogenesis in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. J Pathol 2016; 240:269-281. [PMID: 27453350 DOI: 10.1002/path.4773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is an aggressive paediatric cancer of skeletal muscle with poor prognosis. A PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein acts as a driver of malignancy in ARMS by disrupting tightly coupled but mutually exclusive pathways of proliferation and differentiation. While PAX3-FOXO1 is an attractive therapeutic target, no current treatments are designed to block its oncogenic activity. The present work shows that the histone acetyltransferase P/CAF (KAT2B) is overexpressed in primary tumours from ARMS patients. Interestingly, in fusion-positive ARMS cell lines, P/CAF acetylates and stabilizes PAX3-FOXO1 rather than MyoD, a master regulator of muscle differentiation. Silencing P/CAF, or pharmacological inhibition of its acetyltransferase activity, down-regulates PAX3-FOXO1 levels concomitant with reduced proliferation and tumour burden in xenograft mouse models. Our studies identify a P/CAF-PAX3-FOXO1 signalling node that promotes oncogenesis and may contribute to MyoD dysfunction in ARMS. This work exemplifies the therapeutic potential of targeting chromatin-modifying enzymes to inhibit fusion oncoproteins that are a frequent event in sarcomas. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narendra Bharathy
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sudha Suriyamurthy
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vinay Kumar Rao
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jin Rong Ow
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Huey Jin Lim
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Payal Chakraborty
- Bionivid Technology Pvt Ltd, 401-4 AB Cross, 1st Main, Kasturi Nagar, Bangalore, India
| | - Madavan Vasudevan
- Bionivid Technology Pvt Ltd, 401-4 AB Cross, 1st Main, Kasturi Nagar, Bangalore, India
| | | | | | - Victor Lee Kwan Min
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tapas K Kundu
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, India
| | - Reshma Taneja
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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15
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Chatterjee B, Wolff DW, Jothi M, Mal M, Mal AK. p38α MAPK disables KMT1A-mediated repression of myogenic differentiation program. Skelet Muscle 2016; 6:28. [PMID: 27551368 PMCID: PMC4993004 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-016-0100-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Master transcription factor MyoD can initiate the entire myogenic gene expression program which differentiates proliferating myoblasts into multinucleated myotubes. We previously demonstrated that histone methyltransferase KMT1A associates with and inhibits MyoD in proliferating myoblasts, and must be removed to allow differentiation to proceed. It is known that pro-myogenic signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT and p38α MAPK play critical roles in enforcing associations between MyoD and transcriptional activators, while removing repressors. However, the mechanism which displaces KMT1A from MyoD, and the signals responsible, remain unknown. METHODS To investigate the role of p38α on MyoD-mediated differentiation, we utilized C2C12 myoblast cells as an in vitro model. p38α activity was either augmented via overexpression of a constitutively active upstream kinase or blocked via lentiviral delivery of a specific p38α shRNA or treatment with p38α/β inhibitor SB203580. Overexpression of KMT1A in these cells via lentiviral delivery was also used as a system wherein terminal differentiation is impeded by high levels of KMT1A. RESULTS The association of KMT1A and MyoD persisted, and differentiation was blocked in C2C12 myoblasts specifically after pharmacologic or genetic blockade of p38α. Conversely, forced activation of p38α was sufficient to activate MyoD and overcome the differentiation blockade in KMT1A-overexpressing C2C12 cells. Consistent with this finding, KMT1A phosphorylation during C2C12 differentiation correlated strongly with the activation of p38α. This phosphorylation was prevented by the inhibition of p38α. Biochemical studies further revealed that KMT1A can be a direct substrate for p38α. Importantly, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) studies show that the removal of KMT1A-mediated transcription repressive histone tri-methylation (H3K9me3) from the promoter of the Myogenin gene, a critical regulator of muscle differentiation, is dependent on p38α activity in C2C12 cells. Elevated p38α activity was also sufficient to remove this repressive H3K9me3 mark. Moreover, ChIP studies from C2C12 cells show that p38α activity is necessary and sufficient to establish active H3K9 acetylation on the Myogenin promoter. CONCLUSIONS Activation of p38α displaces KMT1A from MyoD to initiate myogenic gene expression upon induction of myoblasts differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biswanath Chatterjee
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, CGP-L3-319, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, New York 14263 USA ; Present Address: Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, 11529 Taiwan
| | - David W Wolff
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, CGP-L3-319, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, New York 14263 USA
| | - Mathivanan Jothi
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, CGP-L3-319, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, New York 14263 USA ; Present Address: Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641046 Tamilnadu India
| | - Munmun Mal
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, CGP-L3-319, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, New York 14263 USA
| | - Asoke K Mal
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, CGP-L3-319, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, New York 14263 USA
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16
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Coda DM, Lingua MF, Morena D, Foglizzo V, Bersani F, Ala U, Ponzetto C, Taulli R. SMYD1 and G6PD modulation are critical events for miR-206-mediated differentiation of rhabdomyosarcoma. Cell Cycle 2016; 14:1389-402. [PMID: 25644430 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2015.1005993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhadomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood. RMS cells resemble fetal myoblasts but are unable to complete myogenic differentiation. In previous work we showed that miR-206, which is low in RMS, when induced in RMS cells promotes the resumption of differentiation by modulating more than 700 genes. To better define the pathways involved in the conversion of RMS cells into their differentiated counterpart, we focused on 2 miR-206 effectors emerged from the microarray analysis, SMYD1 and G6PD. SMYD1, one of the most highly upregulated genes, is a H3K4 histone methyltransferase. Here we show that SMYD1 silencing does not interfere with the proliferative block or with the loss anchorage independence imposed by miR-206, but severely impairs differentiation of ERMS, ARMS, and myogenic cells. Thus SMYD1 is essential for the activation of muscle genes. Conversely, among the downregulated genes, we found G6PD, the enzyme catalyzing the rate-limiting step of the pentose phosphate shunt. In this work, we confirmed that G6PD is a direct target of miR-206. Moreover, we showed that G6PD silencing in ERMS cells impairs proliferation and soft agar growth. However, G6PD overexpression does not interfere with the pro-differentiating effect of miR-206, suggesting that G6PD downmodulation contributes to - but is not an absolute requirement for - the tumor suppressive potential of miR-206. Targeting cancer metabolism may enhance differentiation. However, therapeutic inhibition of G6PD is encumbered by side effects. As an alternative, we used DCA in combination with miR-206 to increase the flux of pyruvate into the mitochondrion by reactivating PDH. DCA enhanced the inhibition of RMS cell growth induced by miR-206, and sustained it upon miR-206 de-induction. Altogether these results link miR-206 to epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming, and suggest that it may be worth combining differentiation-inducing with metabolism-directed approaches.
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Key Words
- DCA, Dichloroacetate
- DHEA, Dehydroepiandrosterone
- G6PD, Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase
- HMT, Histone MethylTransferase
- MREs, MicroRNA Responsive Elements
- MRFs, Myogenic Regulatory Factors
- PDH, Pyruvate Dehydrogenase
- PDK, Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase
- PPP, Pentose Phosphate Pathway
- RMS, Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- SMYD1, SET and MYND domain-containing protein 1
- TCA cycle, TriCarboxylic Acid cycle
- differentiation therapy
- metabolism and cancer
- miR-206
- myomiRs, muscle-specific microRNAs
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17
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Ciarapica R, De Salvo M, Carcarino E, Bracaglia G, Adesso L, Leoncini PP, Dall'Agnese A, Walters ZS, Verginelli F, De Sio L, Boldrini R, Inserra A, Bisogno G, Rosolen A, Alaggio R, Ferrari A, Collini P, Locatelli M, Stifani S, Screpanti I, Rutella S, Yu Q, Marquez VE, Shipley J, Valente S, Mai A, Miele L, Puri PL, Locatelli F, Palacios D, Rota R. The Polycomb group (PcG) protein EZH2 supports the survival of PAX3-FOXO1 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma by repressing FBXO32 (Atrogin1/MAFbx). Oncogene 2014; 33:4173-84. [PMID: 24213577 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Revised: 09/11/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The Polycomb group (PcG) proteins regulate stem cell differentiation via the repression of gene transcription, and their deregulation has been widely implicated in cancer development. The PcG protein Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) works as a catalytic subunit of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) by methylating lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3), a hallmark of PRC2-mediated gene repression. In skeletal muscle progenitors, EZH2 prevents an unscheduled differentiation by repressing muscle-specific gene expression and is downregulated during the course of differentiation. In rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a pediatric soft-tissue sarcoma thought to arise from myogenic precursors, EZH2 is abnormally expressed and its downregulation in vitro leads to muscle-like differentiation of RMS cells of the embryonal variant. However, the role of EZH2 in the clinically aggressive subgroup of alveolar RMS, characterized by the expression of PAX3-FOXO1 oncoprotein, remains unknown. We show here that EZH2 depletion in these cells leads to programmed cell death. Transcriptional derepression of F-box protein 32 (FBXO32) (Atrogin1/MAFbx), a gene associated with muscle homeostasis, was evidenced in PAX3-FOXO1 RMS cells silenced for EZH2. This phenomenon was associated with reduced EZH2 occupancy and H3K27me3 levels at the FBXO32 promoter. Simultaneous knockdown of FBXO32 and EZH2 in PAX3-FOXO1 RMS cells impaired the pro-apoptotic response, whereas the overexpression of FBXO32 facilitated programmed cell death in EZH2-depleted cells. Pharmacological inhibition of EZH2 by either 3-Deazaneplanocin A or a catalytic EZH2 inhibitor mirrored the phenotypic and molecular effects of EZH2 knockdown in vitro and prevented tumor growth in vivo. Collectively, these results indicate that EZH2 is a key factor in the proliferation and survival of PAX3-FOXO1 alveolar RMS cells working, at least in part, by repressing FBXO32. They also suggest that the reducing activity of EZH2 could represent a novel adjuvant strategy to eradicate high-risk PAX3-FOXO1 alveolar RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Ciarapica
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - M De Salvo
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | | | - G Bracaglia
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - L Adesso
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - P P Leoncini
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Z S Walters
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK
| | - F Verginelli
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - L De Sio
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - R Boldrini
- Department of Pathology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - A Inserra
- Department of Surgery, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - G Bisogno
- Department of Pediatrics, Oncohematology Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - A Rosolen
- Department of Pediatrics, Oncohematology Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - R Alaggio
- Medicine DIMED, Pathology Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - A Ferrari
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - P Collini
- Anatomic Pathology Unit 2, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - M Locatelli
- Scientific Directorate, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - S Stifani
- Centre for Neuronal Survival, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - I Screpanti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Roma, Italy
| | - S Rutella
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Q Yu
- Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - V E Marquez
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, CCR, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - J Shipley
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK
| | - S Valente
- Istituto Pasteur, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza University, Roma, Italy
| | - A Mai
- Istituto Pasteur, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza University, Roma, Italy
| | - L Miele
- Cancer Institute, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - P L Puri
- 1] IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy [2] Muscle Development and Regeneration Program, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - F Locatelli
- 1] Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy [2] Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - D Palacios
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy
| | - R Rota
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
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18
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Eid JE, Garcia CB. Reprogramming of mesenchymal stem cells by oncogenes. Semin Cancer Biol 2014; 32:18-31. [PMID: 24938913 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2014.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) originate from embryonic mesoderm and give rise to the multiple lineages of connective tissues. Transformed MSCs develop into aggressive sarcomas, some of which are initiated by specific chromosomal translocations that generate fusion proteins with potent oncogenic properties. The sarcoma oncogenes typically prime MSCs through aberrant reprogramming. They dictate commitment to a specific lineage but prevent mature differentiation, thus locking the cells in a state of proliferative precursors. Deregulated expression of lineage-specific transcription factors and controllers of chromatin structure play a central role in MSC reprogramming and sarcoma pathogenesis. This suggests that reversing the epigenetic aberrancies created by the sarcoma oncogenes with differentiation-related reagents holds great promise as a beneficial addition to sarcoma therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiane E Eid
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 771 Preston, Research Building, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
| | - Christina B Garcia
- Department of Pediatrics-Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, BCM320, Huston, TX 77030, USA
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Cieśla M, Dulak J, Józkowicz A. MicroRNAs and epigenetic mechanisms of rhabdomyosarcoma development. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2014; 53:482-92. [PMID: 24831881 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2014.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Revised: 05/04/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in children. Two main subtypes of rhabdomyosarcoma with different molecular pattern and distinct clinical behaviour may be identified - embryonal and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. All types of rhabdomyosarcoma are believed to be of myogenic origin as they express high levels of myogenesis-related factors. They all, however, fail to undergo a terminal differentiation which results in tumour formation. In the aberrant regulation of myogenesis in rhabdomyosarcoma, microRNAs and epigenetic factors are particularly involved. Indeed, these mediators seem to be even more significant for the development of rhabdomyosarcoma than canonical myogenic transcription factors like MyoD, a master regulatory switch for myogenesis. Therefore, in this review we focus on the regulation of rhabdomyosarcoma progression by microRNAs, and especially on microRNAs of the myo-miRNAs family (miR-1, -133a/b and -206), other well-known myogenic regulators like miR-29, and on microRNAs recently recognized to play a role in the differentiation of rhabdomyosarcoma, such as miR-450b-5p or miR-203. We also review changes in epigenetic modifiers associated with rhabdomyosarcoma, namely histone deacetylases and methyltransferases, especially from the Polycomp Group, like Yin Yang1 and Enhancer of Zeste Homolog2. Finally, we summarize how the functioning of these molecules can be affected by oxidative stress and how antioxidative enzymes can influence the development of this tumour. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Rare Cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Cieśla
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Józef Dulak
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Alicja Józkowicz
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
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20
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De Salvo M, Raimondi L, Vella S, Adesso L, Ciarapica R, Verginelli F, Pannuti A, Citti A, Boldrini R, Milano GM, Cacchione A, Ferrari A, Collini P, Rosolen A, Bisogno G, Alaggio R, Inserra A, Locatelli M, Stifani S, Screpanti I, Miele L, Locatelli F, Rota R. Hyper-activation of Notch3 amplifies the proliferative potential of rhabdomyosarcoma cells. PLoS One 2014; 9:e96238. [PMID: 24797362 PMCID: PMC4010457 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric myogenic-derived soft tissue sarcoma that includes two major histopathological subtypes: embryonal and alveolar. The majority of alveolar RMS expresses PAX3-FOXO1 fusion oncoprotein, associated with the worst prognosis. RMS cells show myogenic markers expression but are unable to terminally differentiate. The Notch signaling pathway is a master player during myogenesis, with Notch1 activation sustaining myoblast expansion and Notch3 activation inhibiting myoblast fusion and differentiation. Accordingly, Notch1 signaling is up-regulated and activated in embryonal RMS samples and supports the proliferation of tumor cells. However, it is unable to control their differentiation properties. We previously reported that Notch3 is activated in RMS cell lines, of both alveolar and embryonal subtype, and acts by inhibiting differentiation. Moreover, Notch3 depletion reduces PAX3-FOXO1 alveolar RMS tumor growth in vivo. However, whether Notch3 activation also sustains the proliferation of RMS cells remained unclear. To address this question, we forced the expression of the activated form of Notch3, Notch3IC, in the RH30 and RH41 PAX3-FOXO1-positive alveolar and in the RD embryonal RMS cell lines and studied the proliferation of these cells. We show that, in all three cell lines tested, Notch3IC over-expression stimulates in vitro cell proliferation and prevents the effects of pharmacological Notch inhibition. Furthermore, Notch3IC further increases RH30 cell growth in vivo. Interestingly, knockdown of Notch canonical ligands JAG1 or DLL1 in RMS cell lines decreases Notch3 activity and reduces cell proliferation. Finally, the expression of Notch3IC and its target gene HES1 correlates with that of the proliferative marker Ki67 in a small cohort of primary PAX-FOXO1 alveolar RMS samples. These results strongly suggest that high levels of Notch3 activation increase the proliferative potential of RMS cells.
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MESH Headings
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Ki-67 Antigen/genetics
- Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/biosynthesis
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- Paired Box Transcription Factors/biosynthesis
- Paired Box Transcription Factors/genetics
- Receptor, Notch1/genetics
- Receptor, Notch1/metabolism
- Receptor, Notch3
- Receptors, Notch/genetics
- Receptors, Notch/metabolism
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar/genetics
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar/metabolism
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar/pathology
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal/genetics
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal/metabolism
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal/pathology
- Signal Transduction
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria De Salvo
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Lavinia Raimondi
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Serena Vella
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Laura Adesso
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Roberta Ciarapica
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Federica Verginelli
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Pannuti
- Stanley Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Arianna Citti
- Department of Pathology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Renata Boldrini
- Department of Pathology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe M. Milano
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonella Cacchione
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Ferrari
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Paola Collini
- Anatomic Pathology Unit 2, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Angelo Rosolen
- Department of Pediatrics, Oncohematology Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Gianni Bisogno
- Department of Pediatrics, Oncohematology Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Rita Alaggio
- Department of Pathology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Inserra
- Department of Surgery, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Mattia Locatelli
- Department of Scientific Directorate, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Stefano Stifani
- Centre for Neuronal Survival, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Lucio Miele
- Stanley Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Oncohematology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- * E-mail:
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21
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Jothi M, Mal M, Keller C, Mal AK. Small molecule inhibition of PAX3-FOXO1 through AKT activation suppresses malignant phenotypes of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:2663-74. [PMID: 24107448 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma comprises a rare highly malignant tumor presumed to be associated with skeletal muscle lineage in children. The hallmark of the majority of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is a chromosomal translocation that generates the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein, which is an oncogenic transcription factor responsible for the development of the malignant phenotype of this tumor. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells are dependent on the oncogenic activity of PAX3-FOXO1, and its expression status in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma tumors correlates with worst patient outcome, suggesting that blocking this activity of PAX3-FOXO1 may be an attractive therapeutic strategy against this fusion-positive disease. In this study, we screened small molecule chemical libraries for inhibitors of PAX3-FOXO1 transcriptional activity using a cell-based readout system. We identified the Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPases (SERCA) inhibitor thapsigargin as an effective inhibitor of PAX3-FOXO1. Subsequent experiments in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells showed that activation of AKT by thapsigargin inhibited PAX3-FOXO1 activity via phosphorylation. Moreover, this AKT activation appears to be associated with the effects of thapsigargin on intracellular calcium levels. Furthermore, thapsigargin inhibited the binding of PAX3-FOXO1 to target genes and subsequently promoted its proteasomal degradation. In addition, thapsigargin treatment decreases the growth and invasive capacity of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells while inducing apoptosis in vitro. Finally, thapsigargin can suppress the growth of an alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma xenograft tumor in vivo. These data reveal that thapsigargin-induced activation of AKT is an effective mechanism to inhibit PAX3-FOXO1 and a potential agent for targeted therapy against alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathivanan Jothi
- Corresponding Author: Asoke K. Mal, Department of Cell Stress Biology, BLSC-L3-319 Roswell Park Cancer Institute Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263.
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22
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Keller C, Guttridge DC. Mechanisms of impaired differentiation in rhabdomyosarcoma. FEBS J 2013; 280:4323-34. [PMID: 23822136 DOI: 10.1111/febs.12421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Revised: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood, with presumed skeletal muscle origins, because of its myogenic phenotype. RMS is composed of two main subtypes, embryonal RMS (eRMS) and alveolar RMS (aRMS). Whereas eRMS histologically resembles embryonic skeletal muscle, the aRMS subtype is more aggressive and has a poorer prognosis. In addition, whereas the genetic profile of eRMS is not well established, aRMS is commonly associated with distinct chromosome translocations that fuse domains of the transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7 to the forkhead family member FOXO1A. Both eRMS and aRMS tumor cells express myogenic markers such as MyoD, but their ability to complete differentiation is impaired. How this impairment occurs is the subject of this review, which will focus on several themes, including signaling pathways that converge on Pax-forkhead gene targets, alterations in MyoD function, epigenetic modifications of myogenic promoters, and microRNAs whose expression patterns in RMS alter key regulatory circuits to help maintain tumor cells in an opportunistically less differentiated state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Keller
- Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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23
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Sokolowski E, Turina CB, Kikuchi K, Langenau DM, Keller C. Proof-of-concept rare cancers in drug development: the case for rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncogene 2013; 33:1877-89. [PMID: 23665679 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2013] [Revised: 02/22/2013] [Accepted: 02/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Rare diseases typically affect fewer than 200,000 patients annually, yet because thousands of rare diseases exist, the cumulative impact is millions of patients worldwide. Every form of childhood cancer qualifies as a rare disease-including the childhood muscle cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). The next few years promise to be an exceptionally good era of opportunity for public-private collaboration for rare and childhood cancers. Not only do certain governmental regulation advantages exist, but these advantages are being made permanent with special incentives for pediatric orphan drug-product development. Coupled with a growing understanding of sarcoma tumor biology, synergy with pharmaceutical muscle disease drug-development programs, and emerging publically available preclinical and clinical tools, the outlook for academic-community-industry partnerships in RMS drug development looks promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Sokolowski
- Department of Student Affairs, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - C B Turina
- 1] Department of Student Affairs, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA [2] Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Department of Pediatrics, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - K Kikuchi
- Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Department of Pediatrics, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - D M Langenau
- 1] Division of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA [2] Harvard Medical School and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - C Keller
- Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Department of Pediatrics, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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24
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Walters ZS, Villarejo-Balcells B, Olmos D, Buist TWS, Missiaglia E, Allen R, Al-Lazikani B, Garrett MD, Blagg J, Shipley J. JARID2 is a direct target of the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein and inhibits myogenic differentiation of rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Oncogene 2013; 33:1148-57. [PMID: 23435416 PMCID: PMC3982124 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2012] [Revised: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 01/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are the most frequent soft-tissue sarcoma in children and characteristically show features of developing skeletal muscle. The alveolar subtype is frequently associated with a PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein that is known to contribute to the undifferentiated myogenic phenotype of RMS cells. Histone methylation of lysine residues controls developmental processes in both normal and malignant cell contexts. Here we show that JARID2, which encodes a protein known to recruit various complexes with histone-methylating activity to their target genes, is significantly overexpressed in RMS with PAX3-FOXO1 compared with the fusion gene-negative RMS (t-test; P < 0.0001). Multivariate analyses showed that higher JARID2 levels are also associated with metastases at diagnosis, independent of fusion gene status and RMS subtype (n = 120; P = 0.039). JARID2 levels were altered by silencing or overexpressing PAX3-FOXO1 in RMS cell lines with and without the fusion gene, respectively. Consistent with this, we demonstrated that JARID2 is a direct transcriptional target of the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein. Silencing JARID2 resulted in reduced cell proliferation coupled with myogenic differentiation, including increased expression of Myogenin (MYOG) and Myosin Light Chain (MYL1) in RMS cell lines representative of both the alveolar and embryonal subtypes. Induced myogenic differentiation was associated with a decrease in JARID2 levels and this phenotype could be rescued by overexpressing JARID2. Furthermore, we that showed JARID2 binds to and alters the methylation status of histone H3 lysine 27 in the promoter regions of MYOG and MYL1 and that the interaction of JARID2 at these promoters is dependent on EED, a core component of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). Therefore, JARID2 is a downstream effector of PAX3-FOXO1 that maintains an undifferentiated myogenic phenotype that is characteristic of RMS. JARID2 and other components of PRC2 may represent novel therapeutic targets for treating RMS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z S Walters
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK
| | - B Villarejo-Balcells
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK
| | - D Olmos
- 1] Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK [2] Sarcoma Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - T W S Buist
- 1] Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK [2] Computational Biology and Chemogenomics, Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London, UK
| | - E Missiaglia
- 1] Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK [2] Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Bioinformatics Core Facility, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - R Allen
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK
| | - B Al-Lazikani
- Computational Biology and Chemogenomics, Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London, UK
| | - M D Garrett
- Cell Cycle Control Team, Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK
| | - J Blagg
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London, UK
| | - J Shipley
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK
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25
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Bennani-Baiti IM. Epigenetic and epigenomic mechanisms shape sarcoma and other mesenchymal tumor pathogenesis. Epigenomics 2012; 3:715-32. [PMID: 22126291 DOI: 10.2217/epi.11.93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sarcomas comprise a large number of rare, histogenetically heterogeneous, mesenchymal tumors. Cancers such as Ewing's sarcoma, liposarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and synovial sarcoma can be generated by the transduction of mesenchymal stem cell progenitors with sarcoma-pathognomonic oncogenic fusions, a neoplastic transformation process accompanied by profound locus-specific and pangenomic epigenetic alterations. The epigenetic activities of histone-modifying and chromatin-remodeling enzymes such as SUV39H1/KMT1A, EZH2/KMT6A and BMI1 are central to epigenetic-regulated transformation, a property we coin oncoepigenic. Sarcoma-specific oncoepigenic aberrations modulate critical signaling pathways that control cell growth and differentiation including several miRNAs, Wnt, PI3K/AKT, Sav-RASSF1-Hpo and regulators of the G1 and G2/M checkpoints of the cell cycle. Herein an overview of the current knowledge of this rapidly evolving field that will undoubtedly uncover additional oncoepigenic mechanisms and yield druggable targets in the near future is discussed.
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Jothi M, Nishijo K, Keller C, Mal AK. AKT and PAX3-FKHR cooperation enforces myogenic differentiation blockade in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cell. Cell Cycle 2012; 11:895-908. [PMID: 22333587 DOI: 10.4161/cc.11.5.19346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The chimeric PAX3-FKHR transcription factor is present in a majority of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS), an aggressive skeletal muscle cancer of childhood. PAX3-FKHR-mediated aberrant myogenic gene expression resulting in escape from terminal differentiation program is believed to contribute in ARMS development. In skeletal muscle differentiation, activation of AKT pathway leads to myogenic gene activation and terminal differentiation. Here, we report that AKT acts, in part, by modulating PAX3-FKHR transcriptional activity via phosphorylation in the maintenance of the myogenic differentiation blockade in established mouse models of ARMS cells. We observed that low levels of AKT activity are associated with elevated levels of PAX3-FKHR transcriptional activity, and AKT hyperactivation results in PAX3-FKHR phosphorylation coupled with decreased activity once cells are under differentiation-permissible conditions. Subsequent data shows that attenuated AKT activity-associated PAX3-FKHR activity is required to suppress the function of MyoD, a key myogenic regulator of muscle differentiation. Conversely, decreased PAX3-FKHR activity results in the eradication of MyoD expression and subsequent suppression of the myogenic differentiation. Thus, AKT regulation of the PAX3- FKHR suppresses myogenic gene expression in ARMS cells, causing a failure in differentiation. Evidence is presented that provides a novel molecular link between AKT and PAX3-FKHR in maintaining myogenic differentiation blockade in ARMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathivanan Jothi
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
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27
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MacQuarrie KL, Tapscott SJ. Stuck in a balancing act: histone methyltransferase activity of KMT1A traps alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas in an undifferentiated state. Cell Cycle 2011; 10:3225-6. [PMID: 21941084 DOI: 10.4161/cc.10.19.17451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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