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LaRue-Nolan KC, Arul GLR, Sigafoos AN, Shi J, Fernandez-Zapico ME. Insights into the mechanisms driven by H3K4 KMTs in pancreatic cancer. Biochem J 2024; 481:983-997. [PMID: 39078225 PMCID: PMC11332384 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20230374] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a malignancy arising from the endocrine or exocrine compartment of this organ. Tumors from exocrine origin comprise over 90% of all pancreatic cancers diagnosed. Of these, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common histological subtype. The five-year survival rate for PDAC ranged between 5 and 9% for over four decades, and only recently saw a modest increase to ∼12-13%, making this a severe and lethal disease. Like other cancers, PDAC initiation stems from genetic changes. However, therapeutic targeting of PDAC genetic drivers has remained relatively unsuccessful, thus the focus in recent years has expanded to the non-genetic factors underlying the disease pathogenesis. Specifically, it has been proposed that dynamic changes in the epigenetic landscape promote tumor growth and metastasis. Emphasis has been given to the re-organization of enhancers, essential regulatory elements controlling oncogenic gene expression, commonly marked my histone 3 lysine 4 monomethylation (H3K4me1). H3K4me1 is typically deposited by histone lysine methyltransferases (KMTs). While well characterized as oncogenes in other cancer types, recent work has expanded the role of KMTs as tumor suppressor in pancreatic cancer. Here, we review the role and translational significance for PDAC development and therapeutics of KMTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla C. LaRue-Nolan
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A
| | | | - Ashley N. Sigafoos
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.A
| | - Jiaqi Shi
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Labs, Rogel Cancer Center and Center for RNA Biomedicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, U.S.A
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2
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Gancedo SN, Sahores A, Gómez N, Di Siervi N, May M, Yaneff A, de Sousa Serro MG, Fraunhoffer N, Dusetti N, Iovanna J, Shayo C, Davio CA, González B. The xenobiotic transporter ABCC4/MRP4 promotes epithelial mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1432851. [PMID: 39114357 PMCID: PMC11303182 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1432851] [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: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The xenobiotic transporter ABCC4/MRP4 is highly expressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and correlates with a more aggressive phenotype and metastatic propensity. Here, we show that ABCC4 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in PDAC, a hallmark process involving the acquisition of mesenchymal traits by epithelial cells, enhanced cell motility, and chemoresistance. Modulation of ABCC4 levels in PANC-1 and BxPC-3 cell lines resulted in the dysregulation of genes present in the EMT signature. Bioinformatic analysis on several cohorts including tumor samples, primary patient-derived cultured cells, patient-derived xenografts, and cell lines, revealed a positive correlation between ABCC4 expression and EMT markers. We also characterized the ABCC4 cistrome and identified four candidate clusters in the distal promoter and intron one that showed differential binding of pro-epithelial FOXA1 and pro-mesenchymal GATA2 transcription factors in low ABCC4-expressing HPAF-II and high ABCC4-expressing PANC-1 xenografts. HPAF-II xenografts showed exclusive binding of FOXA1, and PANC-1 xenografts exclusive binding of GATA2, at ABCC4 clusters, consistent with their low and high EMT phenotype respectively. Our results underscore ABCC4/MRP4 as a valuable prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target to treat PDAC subtypes with prominent EMT features, such as the basal-like/squamous subtype, characterized by worse prognosis and no effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. N. Gancedo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A. Sahores
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Programa Franco-argentino de Estudio del Cáncer de Páncreas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - N. Gómez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - N. Di Siervi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M. May
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - A. Yaneff
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Programa Franco-argentino de Estudio del Cáncer de Páncreas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M. G. de Sousa Serro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - N. Fraunhoffer
- Programa Franco-argentino de Estudio del Cáncer de Páncreas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, CNRS UMR, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
- Equipe Labellisée La Ligue, Marseille, France
| | - N. Dusetti
- Programa Franco-argentino de Estudio del Cáncer de Páncreas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, CNRS UMR, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
- Equipe Labellisée La Ligue, Marseille, France
| | - J. Iovanna
- Programa Franco-argentino de Estudio del Cáncer de Páncreas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM, CNRS UMR, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
- Equipe Labellisée La Ligue, Marseille, France
- Hospital de Alta Complejidad El Cruce, Argentina. Universidad Nacional Arturo Jauretche, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C. Shayo
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C. A. Davio
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Programa Franco-argentino de Estudio del Cáncer de Páncreas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - B. González
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Programa Franco-argentino de Estudio del Cáncer de Páncreas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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3
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Zhou Y, He Z, Li T, Choppavarapu L, Hu X, Cao R, Leone GW, Kahn M, Jin VX. 3D Chromatin Alteration by Disrupting β-Catenin/CBP Interaction Is Enriched with Insulin Signaling in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2202. [PMID: 38927910 PMCID: PMC11201718 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122202] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic potential of targeting the β-catenin/CBP interaction has been demonstrated in a variety of preclinical tumor models with a small molecule inhibitor, ICG-001, characterized as a β-catenin/CBP antagonist. Despite the high binding specificity of ICG-001 for the N-terminus of CBP, this β-catenin/CBP antagonist exhibits pleiotropic effects. Our recent studies found global changes in three-dimensional (3D) chromatin architecture in response to disruption of the β-catenin/CBP interaction in pancreatic cancer cells. However, an understanding of how the functional crosstalk between the antagonist and the β-catenin/CBP interaction affects changes in 3D chromatin architecture and, thereby, gene expression and downstream effects remains to be elucidated. Here, we perform Hi-C analyses on canonical and patient-derived pancreatic cancer cells before and after treatment with ICG-001. In addition to global alteration of 3D chromatin domains, we unexpectedly identify insulin signaling genes enriched in the altered chromatin domains. We further demonstrate that the chromatin loops associated with insulin signaling genes are significantly weakened after ICG-001 treatment. We finally elicit the deletion of a looping of IRS1-a key insulin signaling gene-significantly impeding pancreatic cancer cell growth, indicating that looping-mediated insulin signaling might act as an oncogenic pathway to promote pancreatic cancer progression. Our work shows that targeting aberrant insulin chromatin looping in pancreatic cancer might provide a therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufan Zhou
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (T.L.)
| | - Zhijing He
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (T.L.)
- Department of Stomatology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Tian Li
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (T.L.)
| | - Lavanya Choppavarapu
- Division of Biostatistics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
- MCW Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
- Mellowes Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Xiaohui Hu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China;
| | - Ruifeng Cao
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA;
| | - Gustavo W. Leone
- MCW Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Michael Kahn
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
| | - Victor X. Jin
- Division of Biostatistics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
- MCW Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
- Mellowes Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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4
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Tonelli C, Yordanov GN, Hao Y, Deschênes A, Hinds J, Belleau P, Klingbeil O, Brosnan E, Doshi A, Park Y, Hruban RH, Vakoc CR, Dobin A, Preall J, Tuveson DA. A mucus production programme promotes classical pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Gut 2024; 73:941-954. [PMID: 38262672 PMCID: PMC11088527 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-329839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The optimal therapeutic response in cancer patients is highly dependent upon the differentiation state of their tumours. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a lethal cancer that harbours distinct phenotypic subtypes with preferential sensitivities to standard therapies. This study aimed to investigate intratumour heterogeneity and plasticity of cancer cell states in PDA in order to reveal cell state-specific regulators. DESIGN We analysed single-cell expression profiling of mouse PDAs, revealing intratumour heterogeneity and cell plasticity and identified pathways activated in the different cell states. We performed comparative analysis of murine and human expression states and confirmed their phenotypic diversity in specimens by immunolabeling. We assessed the function of phenotypic regulators using mouse models of PDA, organoids, cell lines and orthotopically grafted tumour models. RESULTS Our expression analysis and immunolabeling analysis show that a mucus production programme regulated by the transcription factor SPDEF is highly active in precancerous lesions and the classical subtype of PDA - the most common differentiation state. SPDEF maintains the classical differentiation and supports PDA transformation in vivo. The SPDEF tumour-promoting function is mediated by its target genes AGR2 and ERN2/IRE1β that regulate mucus production, and inactivation of the SPDEF programme impairs tumour growth and facilitates subtype interconversion from classical towards basal-like differentiation. CONCLUSIONS Our findings expand our understanding of the transcriptional programmes active in precancerous lesions and PDAs of classical differentiation, determine the regulators of mucus production as specific vulnerabilities in these cell states and reveal phenotype switching as a response mechanism to inactivation of differentiation states determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tonelli
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | | | - Yuan Hao
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - Astrid Deschênes
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - Juliene Hinds
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - Pascal Belleau
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - Olaf Klingbeil
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - Erin Brosnan
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - Abhishek Doshi
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - Youngkyu Park
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - Ralph H Hruban
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Alexander Dobin
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - Jonathan Preall
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
| | - David A Tuveson
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
- Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA
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5
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Zhang Z, Liu Y, Xu Y, Xu Z, Jia J, Jin Y, Wang W, Liu L. Abrogation of KLF5 sensitizes BRCA1-proficient pancreatic cancer to PARP inhibition. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2024; 56:576-585. [PMID: 38433576 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023288] [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: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor monotherapies are selectively effective in patients with pancreatic, breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers with BRCA1 mutations. Cancer patients with more frequent wild-type BRCA show poor responses to PARP inhibitors. Moreover, patients who are initially sensitive to these inhibitors eventually respond poorly to drugs. In the present study, we discover that abrogation of Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) significantly inhibits homologous recombination, which is the main mechanism for DNA double-stranded repair. Furthermore, the downregulation of KLF5 expression promotes the DNA damage induced by olaparib and significantly reduces the IC 50 of the RARP inhibitor in pancreatic cancer cells. Overexpression of BRCA1 reverses the above effects caused by silencing of KLF5. Olaparib combined with a KLF5 inhibitor has an enhanced cytotoxic effect. Mechanistically, we identify BRCA1 as a KLF5 target gene. BRCA1 is positively correlated with KLF5 in PDAC tissue. Our results indicate that inhibition of KLF5 may induce BRCAness in a larger pancreatic cancer subset with proficient BRCA. The combination of KLF5 inhibitors and PARP inhibitors provides a novel treatment strategy to enhance the sensitivity of BRCA1-proficient pancreatic cancer to PARP inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yuxin Liu
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Yaolin Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zijin Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Qingpu Branch of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 201700, China
| | - Jinbin Jia
- Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Yun Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, the Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Wenquan Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Liang Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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6
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Di Chiaro P, Nacci L, Arco F, Brandini S, Polletti S, Palamidessi A, Donati B, Soriani C, Gualdrini F, Frigè G, Mazzarella L, Ciarrocchi A, Zerbi A, Spaggiari P, Scita G, Rodighiero S, Barozzi I, Diaferia GR, Natoli G. Mapping functional to morphological variation reveals the basis of regional extracellular matrix subversion and nerve invasion in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:662-681.e10. [PMID: 38518775 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Intratumor morphological heterogeneity of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) predicts clinical outcomes but is only partially understood at the molecular level. To elucidate the gene expression programs underpinning intratumor morphological variation in PDAC, we investigated and deconvoluted at single cell level the molecular profiles of histologically distinct clusters of PDAC cells. We identified three major morphological and functional variants that co-exist in varying proportions in all PDACs, display limited genetic diversity, and are associated with a distinct organization of the extracellular matrix: a glandular variant with classical ductal features; a transitional variant displaying abortive ductal structures and mixed endodermal and myofibroblast-like gene expression; and a poorly differentiated variant lacking ductal features and basement membrane, and showing neuronal lineage priming. Ex vivo and in vitro evidence supports the occurrence of dynamic transitions among these variants in part influenced by extracellular matrix composition and stiffness and associated with local, specifically neural, invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Di Chiaro
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
| | - Lucia Nacci
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabiana Arco
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Stefania Brandini
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Sara Polletti
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Palamidessi
- IFOM, The FIRC Institute for Molecular Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Benedetta Donati
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Chiara Soriani
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Gualdrini
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Gianmaria Frigè
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Luca Mazzarella
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy; Division of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology and Neuroendocrine Tumors, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessia Ciarrocchi
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zerbi
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milano, Italy; Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele - Milano, Italy
| | | | - Giorgio Scita
- IFOM, The FIRC Institute for Molecular Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Haemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Simona Rodighiero
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Iros Barozzi
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Giuseppe R Diaferia
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
| | - Gioacchino Natoli
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
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7
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Zhou Q, Pichlmeier S, Denz AM, Schreiner N, Straub T, Benitz S, Wolff J, Fahr L, Del Socorro Escobar Lopez M, Kleeff J, Mayerle J, Mahajan UM, Regel I. Altered histone acetylation patterns in pancreatic cancer cell lines induce subtype‑specific transcriptomic and phenotypical changes. Int J Oncol 2024; 64:26. [PMID: 38240084 PMCID: PMC10807649 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2024.5614] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is often diagnosed at advanced tumor stages with chemotherapy as the only treatment option. Transcriptomic analysis has defined a classical and basal‑like PDAC subtype, which are regulated by epigenetic modification. The present study aimed to determine if drug‑induced epigenetic reprogramming of pancreatic cancer cells affects PDAC subtype identity and chemosensitivity. Classical and basal‑like PDAC cell lines PaTu‑S, Capan‑1, Capan‑2, Colo357, PaTu‑T, PANC‑1 and MIAPaCa‑2, were treated for a short (up to 96 h) and long (up to 30 weeks) period with histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. The cells were analyzed using gene expression approaches, immunoblot analysis, and various cell assays to assess cell characteristics, such as proliferation, colony formation, cell migration and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. Classical and basal‑like PDAC cell lines showed pronounced epigenetic regulation of subtype‑specific genes through acetylation of lysine 27 on Histone H3 (H3K27ac). Moreover, classical cell lines revealed a significantly decreased expression of HDAC2 and increased total levels of H3K27ac in comparison with the basal‑like cell lines. Following HAT inhibitor treatment, classical cell lines exhibited a loss of epithelial marker gene expression, decreased chemotherapy response gene score and increased cell migration in vitro, indicating a tumor‑promoting phenotype. HDAC inhibitor treatment, however, exerted minimal reprogramming effects in both subtypes. Epigenetic reprogramming of classical and basal‑like tumor cells did not have a major impact on gemcitabine response, although the gemcitabine transporter gene SLC29A1 (solute carrier family 29 member 1) was epigenetically regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Zhou
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Svenja Pichlmeier
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Würzburg, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anna Maria Denz
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Nicole Schreiner
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Straub
- Bioinformatic Unit, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, D-82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Simone Benitz
- Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI 48208, USA
| | - Julia Wolff
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Fahr
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
| | | | - Jörg Kleeff
- Department of Surgery, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Julia Mayerle
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
| | | | - Ivonne Regel
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital, LMU Munich, D-81377 Munich, Germany
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8
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Ruta V, Naro C, Pieraccioli M, Leccese A, Archibugi L, Cesari E, Panzeri V, Allgöwer C, Arcidiacono PG, Falconi M, Carbone C, Tortora G, Borrelli F, Attili F, Spada C, Quero G, Alfieri S, Doglioni C, Kleger A, Capurso G, Sette C. An alternative splicing signature defines the basal-like phenotype and predicts worse clinical outcome in pancreatic cancer. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101411. [PMID: 38325381 PMCID: PMC10897606 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101411] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by extremely poor prognosis. PDAC presents with molecularly distinct subtypes, with the basal-like one being associated with enhanced chemoresistance. Splicing dysregulation contributes to PDAC; however, its involvement in subtype specification remains elusive. Herein, we uncover a subtype-specific splicing signature associated with prognosis in PDAC and the splicing factor Quaking (QKI) as a determinant of the basal-like signature. Single-cell sequencing analyses highlight QKI as a marker of the basal-like phenotype. QKI represses splicing events associated with the classical subtype while promoting basal-like events associated with shorter survival. QKI favors a plastic, quasi-mesenchymal phenotype that supports migration and chemoresistance in PDAC organoids and cell lines, and its expression is elevated in high-grade primary tumors and metastatic lesions. These studies identify a splicing signature that defines PDAC subtypes and indicate that QKI promotes an undifferentiated, plastic phenotype, which renders PDAC cells chemoresistant and adaptable to environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Ruta
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Naro
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Pieraccioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana Leccese
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Archibugi
- Pancreato-Biliary Endoscopy and Endosonography Division, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Panzeri
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Chantal Allgöwer
- Institute for Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology, Ulm University Hospital, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Paolo Giorgio Arcidiacono
- Pancreato-Biliary Endoscopy and Endosonography Division, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, 20132 Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Falconi
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy; Pancreas and Transplantation Surgical Division, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Giampaolo Tortora
- Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; Medical Oncology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Fabia Attili
- Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Quero
- Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; Gemelli Pancreatic Advanced Research Center (CRMPG), Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Alfieri
- Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; Gemelli Pancreatic Advanced Research Center (CRMPG), Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Doglioni
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy; Division of Pathology, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Alexander Kleger
- Institute for Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology, Ulm University Hospital, 89081 Ulm, Germany; Division of Interdisciplinary Pancreatology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Gabriele Capurso
- Pancreato-Biliary Endoscopy and Endosonography Division, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, 20132 Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Sette
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy.
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9
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Runel G, Lopez-Ramirez N, Barbollat-Boutrand L, Cario M, Durand S, Grimont M, Schartl M, Dalle S, Caramel J, Chlasta J, Masse I. Cancer Cell Biomechanical Properties Accompany Tspan8-Dependent Cutaneous Melanoma Invasion. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:694. [PMID: 38398085 PMCID: PMC10887418 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040694] [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: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The intrinsic biomechanical properties of cancer cells remain poorly understood. To decipher whether cell stiffness modulation could increase melanoma cells' invasive capacity, we performed both in vitro and in vivo experiments exploring cell stiffness by atomic force microscopy (AFM). We correlated stiffness properties with cell morphology adaptation and the molecular mechanisms underlying epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT)-like phenotype switching. We found that melanoma cell stiffness reduction was systematically associated with the acquisition of invasive properties in cutaneous melanoma cell lines, human skin reconstructs, and Medaka fish developing spontaneous MAP-kinase-induced melanomas. We observed a systematic correlation of stiffness modulation with cell morphological changes towards mesenchymal characteristic gains. We accordingly found that inducing melanoma EMT switching by overexpressing the ZEB1 transcription factor, a major regulator of melanoma cell plasticity, was sufficient to decrease cell stiffness and transcriptionally induce tetraspanin-8-mediated dermal invasion. Moreover, ZEB1 expression correlated with Tspan8 expression in patient melanoma lesions. Our data suggest that intrinsic cell stiffness could be a highly relevant marker for human cutaneous melanoma development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Runel
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
- BioMeca, 60F, Bioserra 2, Av. Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Noémie Lopez-Ramirez
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Laetitia Barbollat-Boutrand
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Muriel Cario
- National Reference Center for Rare Skin Disease, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, INSERM 1035, 33000 Bordeaux, France
- AquiDerm, University Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Simon Durand
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Maxime Grimont
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Developmental Biochemistry, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - Stéphane Dalle
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
- Dermatology Department, Hôpital Universitaire Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Julie Caramel
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Julien Chlasta
- BioMeca, 60F, Bioserra 2, Av. Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Ingrid Masse
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
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10
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Malvi P, Chava S, Cai G, Hu K, Zhu LJ, Edwards YJK, Green MR, Gupta R, Wajapeyee N. HOXC6 drives a therapeutically targetable pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis pathway by regulating MSK1 and PPP2R2B. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101285. [PMID: 37951219 PMCID: PMC10694669 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest cancers, which lacks effective therapies. Here, we demonstrate that the transcription factor, homeobox C6 (HOXC6), is overexpressed in most PDACs, and its inhibition blocks PDAC tumor growth and metastasis. HOXC6 transcriptionally activates tumor-promoting kinase MSK1 and suppresses tumor-inhibitory protein PPP2R2B in PDAC. HOXC6-induced PPP2R2B suppression causes mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway activation, which facilitates PDAC growth. Also, MSK1 upregulation by HOXC6 is necessary for PDAC growth because of its ability to suppress apoptosis via its substrate DDX17. Combinatorial pharmacological inhibition of MSK1 and mTOR potently suppressed PDAC tumor growth and metastasis in PDAC mouse models. PDAC cells with acquired resistance to MSK1/mTOR-inhibitors displayed activated insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) signaling and were successfully eradicated by IGF1R inhibitor. Furthermore, MEK inhibitor trametinib enhanced the efficacy of dual MSK1 and mTOR inhibition. Collectively, these results identify therapeutic vulnerabilities of PDAC and an approach to overcome acquired drug resistance to prolong therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parmanand Malvi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Suresh Chava
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Guoping Cai
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Kai Hu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lihua Julie Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Yvonne J K Edwards
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Michael R Green
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Romi Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Narendra Wajapeyee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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11
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Alavi M, Mejia-Bautista A, Tang M, Bandovic J, Rosenberg AZ, Bialkowska AB. Krüppel-like Factor 5 Plays an Important Role in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Pancreatitis. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5427. [PMID: 38001687 PMCID: PMC10670257 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15225427] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pancreatitis results in the formation of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and poses a risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Our previous study demonstrated that Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) is necessary for forming acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) in acute pancreatitis. Here, we investigated the role of KLF5 in response to chronic injury in the pancreas. Human tissues originating from chronic pancreatitis patients showed increased levels of epithelial KLF5. An inducible genetic model combining the deletion of Klf5 and the activation of KrasG12D mutant expression in pancreatic acinar cells together with chemically induced chronic pancreatitis was used. The chronic injury resulted in increased levels of KLF5 in both control and KrasG12D mutant mice. Furthermore, it led to numerous ADM and PanIN lesions and extensive fibrosis in the KRAS mutant mice. In contrast, pancreata with Klf5 loss (with or without KrasG12D) failed to develop ADM, PanIN, or significant fibrosis. Furthermore, the deletion of Klf5 reduced the expression level of cytokines and fibrotic components such as Il1b, Il6, Tnf, Tgfb1, Timp1, and Mmp9. Notably, using ChIP-PCR, we showed that KLF5 binds directly to the promoters of Il1b, Il6, and Tgfb1 genes. In summary, the inactivation of Klf5 inhibits ADM and PanIN formation and the development of pancreatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Alavi
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA (M.T.)
| | - Ana Mejia-Bautista
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA (M.T.)
| | - Meiyi Tang
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA (M.T.)
| | - Jela Bandovic
- Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Avi Z. Rosenberg
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA;
| | - Agnieszka B. Bialkowska
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA (M.T.)
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12
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Zhou Y, Li T, He Z, Choppavarapu L, Hu X, Cao R, Leone GW, Kahn M, Jin VX. Reprogramming of 3D chromatin domains by antagonizing the β-catenin/CBP interaction attenuates insulin signaling in pancreatic cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.10.566585. [PMID: 38013997 PMCID: PMC10680786 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.566585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The therapeutic potential of targeting the β-catenin/CBP interaction has been demonstrated in a variety of preclinical tumor models with a small molecule inhibitor, ICG-001, characterized as a β-catenin/CBP antagonist. Despite the high binding specificity of ICG-001 for the N-terminus of CBP, this β-catenin/CBP antagonist exhibits pleiotropic effects. Our recent studies found global changes in three-dimensional (3D) chromatin architecture in response to disruption of the β-catenin/CBP interaction in pancreatic cancer cells. However, an understanding of the functional crosstalk between antagonizing the β-catenin/CBP interaction effect changes in 3D chromatin architecture and thereby gene expression and downstream effects remains to be elucidated. Here we perform Hi-C analyses on canonical and patient-derived pancreatic cancer cells before and after the treatment with ICG-001. In addition to global alteration of 3D chromatin domains, we unexpectedly identify insulin signaling genes enriched in the altered chromatin domains. We further demonstrate the chromatin loops associated with insulin signaling genes are significantly weakened after ICG-001 treatment. We finally elicit the deletion of a looping of IRS1, a key insulin signaling gene, significantly impede pancreatic cancer cell growth, indicating that looping-mediated insulin signaling might act as an oncogenic pathway to promote pancreatic cancer progression. Our work shows that targeting aberrant insulin chromatin looping in pancreatic cancer might provide a therapeutic benefit.
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13
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Potenza A, Balestrieri C, Spiga M, Albarello L, Pedica F, Manfredi F, Cianciotti BC, De Lalla C, Botrugno OA, Faccani C, Stasi L, Tassi E, Bonfiglio S, Scotti GM, Redegalli M, Biancolini D, Camisa B, Tiziano E, Sirini C, Casucci M, Iozzi C, Abbati D, Simeoni F, Lazarevic D, Elmore U, Fiorentini G, Di Lullo G, Casorati G, Doglioni C, Tonon G, Dellabona P, Rosati R, Aldrighetti L, Ruggiero E, Bonini C. Revealing and harnessing CD39 for the treatment of colorectal cancer and liver metastases by engineered T cells. Gut 2023; 72:1887-1903. [PMID: 37399271 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-328042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Colorectal tumours are often densely infiltrated by immune cells that have a role in surveillance and modulation of tumour progression but are burdened by immunosuppressive signals, which might vary from primary to metastatic stages. Here, we deployed a multidimensional approach to unravel the T-cell functional landscape in primary colorectal cancers (CRC) and liver metastases, and genome editing tools to develop CRC-specific engineered T cells. DESIGN We paired high-dimensional flow cytometry, RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry to describe the functional phenotype of T cells from healthy and neoplastic tissue of patients with primary and metastatic CRC and we applied lentiviral vectors (LV) and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technologies to develop CRC-specific cellular products. RESULTS We found that T cells are mainly localised at the front edge and that tumor-infiltrating T cells co-express multiple inhibitory receptors, which largely differ from primary to metastatic sites. Our data highlighted CD39 as the major driver of exhaustion in both primary and metastatic colorectal tumours. We thus simultaneously redirected T-cell specificity employing a novel T-cell receptor targeting HER-2 and disrupted the endogenous TCR genes (TCR editing (TCRED)) and the CD39 encoding gene (ENTPD1), thus generating TCREDENTPD1KOHER-2-redirected lymphocytes. We showed that the absence of CD39 confers to HER-2-specific T cells a functional advantage in eliminating HER-2+ patient-derived organoids in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION HER-2-specific CD39 disrupted engineered T cells are promising advanced medicinal products for primary and metastatic CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Potenza
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Balestrieri
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Spiga
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Albarello
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Pedica
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Manfredi
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Claudia De Lalla
- Experimental Immunology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Oronza A Botrugno
- Functional Genomics of Cancer Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Faccani
- Experimental Immunology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorena Stasi
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Tassi
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Bonfiglio
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Maria Scotti
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Miriam Redegalli
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Donatella Biancolini
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Camisa
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Tiziano
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Camilla Sirini
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Casucci
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Iozzi
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Danilo Abbati
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Simeoni
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Dejan Lazarevic
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Ugo Elmore
- Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Guido Fiorentini
- Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Di Lullo
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Casorati
- Experimental Immunology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Doglioni
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tonon
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Functional Genomics of Cancer Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Dellabona
- Experimental Immunology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Rosati
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Aldrighetti
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Eliana Ruggiero
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Bonini
- Experimental Hematology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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14
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Lee B, Pierpont T, August A, Richards K. Monoclonal antibodies binding to different epitopes of CD20 differentially sensitize DLBCL to different classes of chemotherapy. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1159484. [PMID: 37601699 PMCID: PMC10436104 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1159484] [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: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Rituximab (R), an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and the world's first approved antibody for oncology patients, was combined with the CHOP chemotherapy regimen and markedly improved the prognosis of all B- cell-derived lymphomas, the most common hematological malignancy worldwide. However, there is a 35% disease recurrence with no advancement in the first-line treatment since R was combined with the archetypal CHOP chemotherapy regimen nearly 30 years ago. There is evidence that R synergizes with chemotherapy, but the pharmacological interactions between R and CHOP or between newer anti-CD20 mAbs and CHOP remain largely unexplored. Methods We used in vitro models to score pharmacological interactions between R and CHOP across various lymphoma cell lines. We compared these pharmacological interactions to ofatumumab, a second-generation anti-CD20 mAb, and CHOP. Lastly, we used RNA-sequencing to characterize the transcriptional profiles induced by these two antibodies and potential molecular pathways that mediate their different effects. Results We discovered vast heterogeneity in the pharmacological interactions between R and CHOP in a way not predicted by the current clinical classification. We then discovered that R and ofatumumab differentially synergize with the cytotoxic and cytostatic capabilities of CHOP in separate distinct subsets of B-cell lymphoma cell lines, thereby expanding favorable immunochemotherapy interactions across a greater range of cell lines beyond those induced by R-CHOP. Lastly, we discovered these two mAbs differentially modulate genes enriched in the JNK and p38 MAPK family, which regulates apoptosis and proliferation. Discussion Our findings were completely unexpected because these mAbs were long considered to be biological and clinical equivalents but, in practice, may perform better than the other in a patient-specific manner. This finding may have immediate clinical significance because both immunochemotherapy combinations are already FDA-approved with no difference in toxicity across phase I, II, and III clinical trials. Therefore, this finding could inform a new precision medicine strategy to provide additional therapeutic benefit to patients with B-cell lymphoma using immunochemotherapy combinations that already meet the clinical standard of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Tim Pierpont
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Avery August
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Kristy Richards
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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15
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Yoo HB, Moon JW, Kim HR, Lee HS, Miyabayashi K, Park CH, Ge S, Zhang A, Tae YK, Sub Y, Park HW, Gee HY, Notta F, Tuveson DA, Bang S, Kim MY, Roe JS. A TEAD2-Driven Endothelial-Like Program Shapes Basal-Like Differentiation and Metastasis of Pancreatic Cancer. Gastroenterology 2023; 165:133-148.e17. [PMID: 36907523 PMCID: PMC10330865 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.02.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), with its highly metastatic propensity, is one of the most lethal subtypes of pancreatic cancer. Although recent large-scale transcriptomic studies have demonstrated that heterogeneous gene expressions play an essential role in determining molecular phenotypes of PDA, biological cues for and consequences of distinct transcriptional programs remain unclear. METHODS We developed an experimental model that enforces the transition of PDA cells toward a basal-like subtype. We combined epigenome and transcriptome analyses with extensive in vitro and in vivo evaluations of tumorigenicity to demonstrate the validity of basal-like subtype differentiation in association with endothelial-like enhancer landscapes via TEA domain transcription factor 2 (TEAD2). Finally, we used loss-of-function experiments to investigate the importance of TEAD2 in regulating reprogrammed enhancer landscape and metastasis in basal-like PDA cells. RESULTS Aggressive characteristics of the basal-like subtype are faithfully recapitulated in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating the physiological relevance of our model. Further, we showed that basal-like subtype PDA cells acquire a TEAD2-dependent proangiogenic enhancer landscape. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibitions of TEAD2 in basal-like subtype PDA cells impair their proangiogenic phenotypes in vitro and cancer progression in vivo. Last, we identify CD109 as a critical TEAD2 downstream mediator that maintains constitutively activated JAK-STAT signaling in basal-like PDA cells and tumors. CONCLUSIONS Our findings implicate a TEAD2-CD109-JAK/STAT axis in the basal-like differentiated pancreatic cancer cells and as a potential therapeutic vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Been Yoo
- Department of Biochemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin Woo Moon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Hwa-Ryeon Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hee Seung Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Koji Miyabayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chan Hee Park
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sabrina Ge
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amy Zhang
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; PanCuRx Translational Research Initiative, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yoo Keung Tae
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yujin Sub
- Department of Pharmacology, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyun-Woo Park
- Department of Biochemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Heon Yung Gee
- Department of Pharmacology, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Faiyaz Notta
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; PanCuRx Translational Research Initiative, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David A Tuveson
- Lustgarten Foundation Dedicated Laboratory at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
| | - Seungmin Bang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mi-Young Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea.
| | - Jae-Seok Roe
- Department of Biochemistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
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16
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FitzPatrick VD, Leemans C, van Arensbergen J, van Steensel B, Bussemaker H. Defining the fine structure of promoter activity on a genome-wide scale with CISSECTOR. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:5499-5511. [PMID: 37013986 PMCID: PMC10287907 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad232] [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: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Classic promoter mutagenesis strategies can be used to study how proximal promoter regions regulate the expression of particular genes of interest. This is a laborious process, in which the smallest sub-region of the promoter still capable of recapitulating expression in an ectopic setting is first identified, followed by targeted mutation of putative transcription factor binding sites. Massively parallel reporter assays such as survey of regulatory elements (SuRE) provide an alternative way to study millions of promoter fragments in parallel. Here we show how a generalized linear model (GLM) can be used to transform genome-scale SuRE data into a high-resolution genomic track that quantifies the contribution of local sequence to promoter activity. This coefficient track helps identify regulatory elements and can be used to predict promoter activity of any sub-region in the genome. It thus allows in silico dissection of any promoter in the human genome to be performed. We developed a web application, available at cissector.nki.nl, that lets researchers easily perform this analysis as a starting point for their research into any promoter of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent D FitzPatrick
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christ Leemans
- Division of Gene Regulation, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joris van Arensbergen
- Division of Gene Regulation, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bas van Steensel
- Division of Gene Regulation, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Harmen J Bussemaker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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17
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Giarrizzo M, LaComb JF, Bialkowska AB. The Role of Krüppel-like Factors in Pancreatic Physiology and Pathophysiology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108589. [PMID: 37239940 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108589] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) belong to the family of transcription factors with three highly conserved zinc finger domains in the C-terminus. They regulate homeostasis, development, and disease progression in many tissues. It has been shown that KLFs play an essential role in the endocrine and exocrine compartments of the pancreas. They are necessary to maintain glucose homeostasis and have been implicated in the development of diabetes. Furthermore, they can be a vital tool in enabling pancreas regeneration and disease modeling. Finally, the KLF family contains proteins that act as tumor suppressors and oncogenes. A subset of members has a biphasic function, being upregulated in the early stages of oncogenesis and stimulating its progression and downregulated in the late stages to allow for tumor dissemination. Here, we describe KLFs' function in pancreatic physiology and pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Giarrizzo
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Joseph F LaComb
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Agnieszka B Bialkowska
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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18
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Kartha N, Gianopulos JE, Schrank Z, Cavender SM, Dobersch S, Kynnap BD, Wallace-Povirk A, Wladyka CL, Santana JF, Kim JC, Yu A, Bridgwater CM, Fuchs K, Dysinger S, Lampano AE, Notta F, Price DH, Hsieh AC, Hingorani SR, Kugel S. Sirtuin 6 is required for the integrated stress response and resistance to inhibition of transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eabn9674. [PMID: 37134154 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abn9674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is classified into two key subtypes, classical and basal, with basal PDAC predicting worse survival. Using in vitro drug assays, genetic manipulation experiments, and in vivo drug studies in human patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) of PDAC, we found that basal PDACs were uniquely sensitive to transcriptional inhibition by targeting cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) and CDK9, and this sensitivity was recapitulated in the basal subtype of breast cancer. We showed in cell lines, PDXs, and publicly available patient datasets that basal PDAC was characterized by inactivation of the integrated stress response (ISR), which leads to a higher rate of global mRNA translation. Moreover, we identified the histone deacetylase sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) as a critical regulator of a constitutively active ISR. Using expression analysis, polysome sequencing, immunofluorescence, and cycloheximide chase experiments, we found that SIRT6 regulated protein stability by binding activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) in nuclear speckles and protecting it from proteasomal degradation. In human PDAC cell lines and organoids as well as in murine PDAC genetically engineered mouse models where SIRT6 was deleted or down-regulated, we demonstrated that SIRT6 loss both defined the basal PDAC subtype and led to reduced ATF4 protein stability and a nonfunctional ISR, causing a marked vulnerability to CDK7 and CDK9 inhibitors. Thus, we have uncovered an important mechanism regulating a stress-induced transcriptional program that may be exploited with targeted therapies in particularly aggressive PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nithya Kartha
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Jessica E Gianopulos
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Zachary Schrank
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Sarah M Cavender
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Stephanie Dobersch
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Bryan D Kynnap
- Physician Assistant Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | | | - Cynthia L Wladyka
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Juan F Santana
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Jaeseung C Kim
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C1, Canada
| | - Angela Yu
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - Kathrin Fuchs
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Nuremberg 91054, Germany
| | - Sarah Dysinger
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Aaron E Lampano
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Faiyaz Notta
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C1, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - David H Price
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Andrew C Hsieh
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Sunil R Hingorani
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Sita Kugel
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
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19
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A Kaleidoscope of Keratin Gene Expression and the Mosaic of Its Regulatory Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065603. [PMID: 36982676 PMCID: PMC10052683 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Keratins are a family of intermediate filament-forming proteins highly specific to epithelial cells. A combination of expressed keratin genes is a defining property of the epithelium belonging to a certain type, organ/tissue, cell differentiation potential, and at normal or pathological conditions. In a variety of processes such as differentiation and maturation, as well as during acute or chronic injury and malignant transformation, keratin expression undergoes switching: an initial keratin profile changes accordingly to changed cell functions and location within a tissue as well as other parameters of cellular phenotype and physiology. Tight control of keratin expression implies the presence of complex regulatory landscapes within the keratin gene loci. Here, we highlight patterns of keratin expression in different biological conditions and summarize disparate data on mechanisms controlling keratin expression at the level of genomic regulatory elements, transcription factors (TFs), and chromatin spatial structure.
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20
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Xu HJ, Bai J, Tian Y, Feng X, Chen AP, Wang J, Wu J, Jin XR, Zhang F, Quan MY, Chen C, Lee KY, Zhang JS. ESE1/AGR2 axis antagonizes TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in low-grade pancreatic cancer. Cancer Med 2023; 12:5979-5993. [PMID: 36329620 PMCID: PMC10028153 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelium-specific ETS transcription factor 1 (ESE1) has been implicated in epithelial homeostasis, inflammation, as well as tumorigenesis, and cancer progression. However, numerous studies have reported contradictory roles-as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor of ESE1 in different cancers, and its function in the development and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has remained largely unexplored. Herein, we report that ESE1 was found upregulated in primary PDAC compared to normal pancreatic tissue, but high expression of ESE1 correlated to better relapse-free survival in patients with PDAC. Interestingly, ESE1 was found to exhibit dual roles in regulation of malignant properties of PDAC cells in that its overexpression promoted cell proliferation, whereas its downregulation enhanced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype. In the context of TGF-β-induced EMT, ESE1 is markedly downregulated at post-transcriptional level, and reconstituted ESE1 expression partially reversed TGF-β-induced EMT marker expression. Furthermore, we identify AGR2 as a novel transcriptional target of ESE1 that participates in TGF-β-induced EMT in PDAC. Collectively, our findings reveal an ESE1/AGR2 axis that interacts with TGF-β signaling to modulate EMT phenotype in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Jing Xu
- International Collaborative Center on Growth Factor Research, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Drug Development, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jing Bai
- International Collaborative Center on Growth Factor Research, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ye Tian
- International Collaborative Center on Growth Factor Research, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiao Feng
- International Collaborative Center on Growth Factor Research, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ai-Ping Chen
- International Collaborative Center on Growth Factor Research, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jie Wang
- International Collaborative Center on Growth Factor Research, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jin Wu
- International Collaborative Center on Growth Factor Research, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xu-Ru Jin
- The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Zhejiang, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mei-Yu Quan
- Medical Research Center, and Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chengshui Chen
- The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kwang-Youl Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Drug Development, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-San Zhang
- The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Zhejiang, China
- Medical Research Center, and Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
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21
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Ho SWT, Sheng T, Xing M, Ooi WF, Xu C, Sundar R, Huang KK, Li Z, Kumar V, Ramnarayanan K, Zhu F, Srivastava S, Isa ZFBA, Anene-Nzelu CG, Razavi-Mohseni M, Shigaki D, Ma H, Tan ALK, Ong X, Lee MH, Tay ST, Guo YA, Huang W, Li S, Beer MA, Foo RSY, Teh M, Skanderup AJ, Teh BT, Tan P. Regulatory enhancer profiling of mesenchymal-type gastric cancer reveals subtype-specific epigenomic landscapes and targetable vulnerabilities. Gut 2023; 72:226-241. [PMID: 35817555 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-326483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Gastric cancer (GC) comprises multiple molecular subtypes. Recent studies have highlighted mesenchymal-subtype GC (Mes-GC) as a clinically aggressive subtype with few treatment options. Combining multiple studies, we derived and applied a consensus Mes-GC classifier to define the Mes-GC enhancer landscape revealing disease vulnerabilities. DESIGN Transcriptomic profiles of ~1000 primary GCs and cell lines were analysed to derive a consensus Mes-GC classifier. Clinical and genomic associations were performed across >1200 patients with GC. Genome-wide epigenomic profiles (H3K27ac, H3K4me1 and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq)) of 49 primary GCs and GC cell lines were generated to identify Mes-GC-specific enhancer landscapes. Upstream regulators and downstream targets of Mes-GC enhancers were interrogated using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq), RNA sequencing, CRISPR/Cas9 editing, functional assays and pharmacological inhibition. RESULTS We identified and validated a 993-gene cancer-cell intrinsic Mes-GC classifier applicable to retrospective cohorts or prospective single samples. Multicohort analysis of Mes-GCs confirmed associations with poor patient survival, therapy resistance and few targetable genomic alterations. Analysis of enhancer profiles revealed a distinctive Mes-GC epigenomic landscape, with TEAD1 as a master regulator of Mes-GC enhancers and Mes-GCs exhibiting preferential sensitivity to TEAD1 pharmacological inhibition. Analysis of Mes-GC super-enhancers also highlighted NUAK1 kinase as a downstream target, with synergistic effects observed between NUAK1 inhibition and cisplatin treatment. CONCLUSION Our results establish a consensus Mes-GC classifier applicable to multiple transcriptomic scenarios. Mes-GCs exhibit a distinct epigenomic landscape, and TEAD1 inhibition and combinatorial NUAK1 inhibition/cisplatin may represent potential targetable options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamaine Wei Ting Ho
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Taotao Sheng
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.,Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Manjie Xing
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.,Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Wen Fong Ooi
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Chang Xu
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Raghav Sundar
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium, Singapore
| | - Kie Kyon Huang
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Zhimei Li
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenome, Division of Medical Sciences, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vikrant Kumar
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | | | - Feng Zhu
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Supriya Srivastava
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Chukwuemeka George Anene-Nzelu
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, National University Health System, Singapore.,Human Genetics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.,Montreal Heart Institute, Quebec, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Milad Razavi-Mohseni
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Dustin Shigaki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Haoran Ma
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Angie Lay Keng Tan
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Xuewen Ong
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Ming Hui Lee
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Su Ting Tay
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Yu Amanda Guo
- Computational and Systems Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Weitai Huang
- Computational and Systems Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Shang Li
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Michael A Beer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Roger Sik Yin Foo
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, National University Health System, Singapore.,Human Genetics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Ming Teh
- Department of Pathology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anders Jacobsen Skanderup
- Computational and Systems Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Bin Tean Teh
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Laboratory of Cancer Epigenome, Division of Medical Sciences, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Patrick Tan
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore .,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium, Singapore.,Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Cellular and Molecular Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore.,SingHealth/Duke-NUS Institute of Precision Medicine, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
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22
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Ferguson LP, Gatchalian J, McDermott ML, Nakamura M, Chambers K, Rajbhandari N, Lytle NK, Rosenthal SB, Hamilton M, Albini S, Wartenberg M, Zlobec I, Galván JA, Karamitopoulou E, Vavinskaya V, Wascher A, Lowy AM, Schürch CM, Puri PL, Bruneau BG, Hargreaves DC, Reya T. Smarcd3 is an epigenetic modulator of the metabolic landscape in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:292. [PMID: 36653361 PMCID: PMC9849267 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35796-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is characterized by extensive resistance to conventional therapies, making clinical management a challenge. Here we map the epigenetic dependencies of cancer stem cells, cells that preferentially evade therapy and drive progression, and identify SWI/SNF complex member SMARCD3 as a regulator of pancreatic cancer cells. Although SWI/SNF subunits often act as tumor suppressors, we show that SMARCD3 is amplified in cancer, enriched in pancreatic cancer stem cells and upregulated in the human disease. Diverse genetic mouse models of pancreatic cancer and stage-specific Smarcd3 deletion reveal that Smarcd3 loss preferentially impacts established tumors, improving survival especially in context of chemotherapy. Mechanistically, SMARCD3 acts with FOXA1 to control lipid and fatty acid metabolism, programs associated with therapy resistance and poor prognosis in cancer. These data identify SMARCD3 as an epigenetic modulator responsible for establishing the metabolic landscape in aggressive pancreatic cancer cells and a potential target for new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Paige Ferguson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Matthew L McDermott
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mari Nakamura
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kendall Chambers
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nirakar Rajbhandari
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nikki K Lytle
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sara Brin Rosenthal
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael Hamilton
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sonia Albini
- Genethon, 91000, EVRY, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare research unit UMR_S951, 91000, Evry, France
| | - Martin Wartenberg
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 31, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Inti Zlobec
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 31, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - José A Galván
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 31, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Eva Karamitopoulou
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 31, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vera Vavinskaya
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alexis Wascher
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Andrew M Lowy
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Christian M Schürch
- Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital and Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Pier Lorenzo Puri
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Benoit G Bruneau
- Gladstone Institutes, Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Tannishtha Reya
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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23
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Pandey S, Gupta VK, Lavania SP. Role of epigenetics in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Epigenomics 2023; 15:89-110. [PMID: 36647796 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2022-0177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers, associated with poor survival outcomes. Lack of early diagnosis, resistance to conventional therapeutic treatments (including immunotherapy) and recurrence are some of the major hurdles in PDAC and contribute to its poor survival rate. While the risk of genetic predisposition to cancers is widely acknowledged and understood, recent advances in whole-genome and next-generation sequencing techniques have led to the acknowledgment of the role played by epigenetics, especially in PDAC. Epigenetic changes are heritable genetic modifications that influence gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. Epigenetic mechanisms (e.g., DNA methylation, post-translational modification of histone complexes and ncRNA) that result in reversible changes in gene expression are increasingly understood to be responsible for tumor initiation, development and even escape from immune surveillance. Our review seeks to highlight the various components of the epigenetic machinery that are known to be implicated in PDAC initiation and development and the feasibility of targeting these components to identify novel pharmacological strategies that could potentially lead to breakthroughs in PDAC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somnath Pandey
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Vineet K Gupta
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Shweta P Lavania
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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24
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Alfarano G, Audano M, Di Chiaro P, Balestrieri C, Milan M, Polletti S, Spaggiari P, Zerbi A, Diaferia GR, Mitro N, Natoli G. Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) controls the metabolic programmes of low-grade pancreatic cancer cells. Gut 2023; 72:109-128. [PMID: 35568393 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) include heterogeneous mixtures of low-grade cells forming pseudoglandular structures and compact nests of high-grade cells organised in non-glandular patterns. We previously reported that low-grade PDAC cells display high expression of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), a pivotal transcription factor of the interferon (IFN) system, suggesting grade-specific, cell-intrinsic activation of IFN responses. Here, we set out to determine the molecular bases and the functional impact of the activation of IFN-regulated responses in human PDACs. DESIGN We first confirmed the correlation between glandular differentiation and molecular subtypes of PDAC on the one hand, and the expression of IRF1 and IFN-stimulated genes on the other. We next used unbiased omics approaches to systematically analyse basal and IFN-regulated responses in low-grade and high-grade PDAC cells, as well as the impact of IRF1 on gene expression programmes and metabolic profiles of PDAC cells. RESULTS High-level expression of IRF1 in low-grade PDAC cells was controlled by endodermal lineage-determining transcription factors. IRF1-regulated gene expression equipped low-grade PDAC cells with distinctive properties related to antigen presentation and processing as well as responsiveness to IFN stimulation. Notably, IRF1 also controlled the characteristic metabolic profile of low-grade PDAC cells, suppressing both mitochondrial respiration and fatty acid synthesis, which may in part explain its growth-inhibiting activity. CONCLUSION IRF1 links endodermal differentiation to the expression of genes controlling antigen presentation and processing as well as to the specification of the metabolic profile characteristic of classical PDAC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Alfarano
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Audano
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Di Chiaro
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Balestrieri
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Milan
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Polletti
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Spaggiari
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zerbi
- Pancreatic Surgery Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milano), Italy
| | | | - Nico Mitro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gioacchino Natoli
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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25
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Yang S, Tang W, Azizian A, Gaedcke J, Ströbel P, Wang L, Cawley H, Ohara Y, Valenzuela P, Zhang L, Lal T, Sinha S, Rupin E, Hanna N, Ghadimi BM, Hussain SP. Dysregulation of HNF1B/Clusterin axis enhances disease progression in a highly aggressive subset of pancreatic cancer patients. Carcinogenesis 2022; 43:1198-1210. [PMID: 36426859 PMCID: PMC10122429 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgac092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy and is largely refractory to available treatments. Identifying key pathways associated with disease aggressiveness and therapeutic resistance may characterize candidate targets to improve patient outcomes. We used a strategy of examining the tumors from a subset of PDAC patient cohorts with the worst survival to understand the underlying mechanisms of aggressive disease progression and to identify candidate molecular targets with potential therapeutic significance. Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering, using gene expression profile, revealed three patient subsets. A 142-gene signature specific to the subset with the worst patient survival, predicted prognosis and stratified patients with significantly different survival in the test and validation cohorts. Gene-network and pathway analysis of the 142-gene signature revealed dysregulation of Clusterin (CLU) in the most aggressive patient subset in our patient cohort. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 b (HNF1B) positively regulated CLU, and a lower expression of HNF1B and CLU was associated with poor patient survival. Mechanistic and functional analyses revealed that CLU inhibits proliferation, 3D spheroid growth, invasiveness and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Mechanistically, CLU enhanced proteasomal degradation of EMT-regulator, ZEB1. In addition, orthotopic transplant of CLU-expressing pancreatic cancer cells reduced tumor growth in mice. Furthermore, CLU enhanced sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells representing aggressive patient subset, to the chemotherapeutic drug gemcitabine. Taken together, HNF1B/CLU axis negatively regulates pancreatic cancer progression and may potentially be useful in designing novel strategies to attenuate disease progression in PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouhui Yang
- Pancreatic Cancer Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Wei Tang
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Azadeh Azizian
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jochen Gaedcke
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Limin Wang
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Helen Cawley
- Pancreatic Cancer Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yuuki Ohara
- Pancreatic Cancer Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Paloma Valenzuela
- Pancreatic Cancer Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lin Zhang
- Pancreatic Cancer Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Trisha Lal
- Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sanju Sinha
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, CCR, NCI, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eythan Rupin
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, CCR, NCI, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nader Hanna
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - B Michael Ghadimi
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - S Perwez Hussain
- Pancreatic Cancer Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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26
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Kato H, Tateishi K, Iwadate D, Yamamoto K, Fujiwara H, Nakatsuka T, Kudo Y, Hayakawa Y, Ijichi H, Otsuka M, Kishikawa T, Takahashi R, Miyabayashi K, Nakai Y, Hirata Y, Toyoda A, Morishita S, Fujishiro M. HNF1B-driven three-dimensional chromatin structure for molecular classification in pancreatic cancers. Cancer Sci 2022; 114:1672-1685. [PMID: 36511816 PMCID: PMC10067390 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15690] [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: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular subtypes of pancreatic cancer (PC), either classical/progenitor-like or basal/squamous-like, are currently a major topic of research because of their direct association with clinical outcomes. Some transcription factors (TFs) have been reported to be associated with these subtypes. However, the mechanisms by which these molecular signatures of PCs are established remain unknown. Epigenetic regulatory processes, supported by dynamic changes in the chromatin structure, are essential for transcriptional profiles. Previously, we reported the importance of open chromatin profiles in the biological features and transcriptional status of PCs. Here, we aimed to analyze the relationships between three-dimensional (3D) genome structures and the molecular subtypes of human PCs using Hi-C analysis. We observed a correlation of the specific elements of 3D genome modules, including compartments, topologically associating domains, and enhancer-promoter loops, with the expression of related genes. We focused on HNF1B, a TF that is implicated in the progenitor subtype. Forced expression of HNF1B in squamous-type PC organoids induced the upregulation and downregulation of genes associated with progenitor and squamous subtypes, respectively. Long-range genomic interactions induced by HNF1B were accompanied by compartment modulation and H3K27ac redistribution. We also found that these HNF1B-induced changes in subtype-related gene expression required an intrinsically disordered region, suggesting a possible involvement of phase separation in compartment modulation. Thus, mapping of 3D structural changes induced by TFs, such as HNF1B, may become a useful resource for further understanding the molecular features of PCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keisuke Tateishi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, St Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Dosuke Iwadate
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keisuke Yamamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Gastroenterology, The Institute of Medical Science, Asahi Life Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuma Nakatsuka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yotaro Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoku Hayakawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideaki Ijichi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motoyuki Otsuka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kishikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryota Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Miyabayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yousuke Nakai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Endoscopy and Endoscopic Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Hirata
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Shinichi Morishita
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Fujishiro
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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27
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ACAP1 Deficiency Predicts Inferior Immunotherapy Response in Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235951. [PMID: 36497434 PMCID: PMC9740925 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235951] [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: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND ACAP1 plays a key role in endocytic recycling, which is essential for the normal function of lymphocytes. However, the expression and function of ACAP1 in lymphocytes have rarely been studied. METHODS Large-scale genomic data, including multiple bulk RNA-sequencing datasets, single-cell sequencing datasets, and immunotherapy cohorts, were exploited to comprehensively characterize ACAP1 expression, regulation, and function. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to uncover the pathways associated with ACAP1 expression. Eight algorithms, including TIMER, CIBERSORT, CIBERSORT-ABS, QUANTISEQ, xCELL, MCPCOUNTER, EPIC, and TIDE, were applied to estimate the infiltrating level of immune cells. Western blotting, qPCR, and ChIP-PCR were used to validate the findings from bioinformatic analyses. A T-cell co-culture killing assay was used to investigate the function of ACAP1 in lymphocytes. RESULTS ACAP1 was highly expressed in immune-related tissues and cells and minimally in other tissues. Moreover, single-cell sequencing analysis in tumor samples revealed that ACAP1 is expressed primarily in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), including T, B, and NK cells. ACAP1 expression is negatively regulated by promoter DNA methylation, with its promoter hypo-methylated in immune cells but hyper-methylated in other cells. Furthermore, SPI1 binds to the ACAP1 promoter and positively regulates its expression in immune cells. ACAP1 levels positively correlate with the infiltrating levels of TILs, especially CD8+ T cells, across a broad range of solid cancer types. ACAP1 deficiency is associated with poor prognosis and immunotherapeutic response in multiple cancer types treated with checkpoint blockade therapy (ICT). Functionally, the depletion of ACAP1 by RNA interference significantly impairs the T cell-mediated killing of tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that ACAP1 is essential for the normal function of TILs, and its deficiency indicates an immunologically "cold" status of tumors that are resistant to ICT.
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28
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Xu Z, Lee DS, Chandran S, Le VT, Bump R, Yasis J, Dallarda S, Marcotte S, Clock B, Haghani N, Cho CY, Akdemir K, Tyndale S, Futreal PA, McVicker G, Wahl GM, Dixon JR. Structural variants drive context-dependent oncogene activation in cancer. Nature 2022; 612:564-572. [PMID: 36477537 PMCID: PMC9810360 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05504-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Higher-order chromatin structure is important for the regulation of genes by distal regulatory sequences1,2. Structural variants (SVs) that alter three-dimensional (3D) genome organization can lead to enhancer-promoter rewiring and human disease, particularly in the context of cancer3. However, only a small minority of SVs are associated with altered gene expression4,5, and it remains unclear why certain SVs lead to changes in distal gene expression and others do not. To address these questions, we used a combination of genomic profiling and genome engineering to identify sites of recurrent changes in 3D genome structure in cancer and determine the effects of specific rearrangements on oncogene activation. By analysing Hi-C data from 92 cancer cell lines and patient samples, we identified loci affected by recurrent alterations to 3D genome structure, including oncogenes such as MYC, TERT and CCND1. By using CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering to generate de novo SVs, we show that oncogene activity can be predicted by using 'activity-by-contact' models that consider partner region chromatin contacts and enhancer activity. However, activity-by-contact models are only predictive of specific subsets of genes in the genome, suggesting that different classes of genes engage in distinct modes of regulation by distal regulatory elements. These results indicate that SVs that alter 3D genome organization are widespread in cancer genomes and begin to illustrate predictive rules for the consequences of SVs on oncogene activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Xu
- Gene Expression Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA,These authors contributed equally
| | - Dong-Sung Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Seoul, Seoul, South Korea,These authors contributed equally
| | - Sahaana Chandran
- Gene Expression Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA
| | - Victoria T. Le
- Gene Expression Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA
| | - Rosalind Bump
- Gene Expression Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA
| | - Jean Yasis
- Gene Expression Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA
| | - Sofia Dallarda
- Gene Expression Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA
| | - Samantha Marcotte
- Gene Expression Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA
| | - Benjamin Clock
- Gene Expression Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA
| | - Nicholas Haghani
- Gene Expression Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA
| | - Chae Yun Cho
- Gene Expression Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA
| | - Kadir Akdemir
- Department of Genomic Medicine; UT MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston, TX, 77030; USA
| | - Selene Tyndale
- Integrative Biology Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA
| | - P. Andrew Futreal
- Department of Genomic Medicine; UT MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston, TX, 77030; USA
| | - Graham McVicker
- Integrative Biology Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA
| | - Geoffrey M. Wahl
- Gene Expression Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA
| | - Jesse R. Dixon
- Gene Expression Laboratory; Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA, 92037; USA,Correspondence:
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29
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Interplay Between the Histone Variant H2A.Z and the Epigenome in Pancreatic Cancer. Arch Med Res 2022; 53:840-858. [PMID: 36470770 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2022.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The oncogenic process is orchestrated by a complex network of chromatin remodeling elements that shape the cancer epigenome. Histone variant H2A.Z regulates DNA control elements such as promoters and enhancers in different types of cancer; however, the interplay between H2A.Z and the pancreatic cancer epigenome is unknown. OBJECTIVE This study analyzed the role of H2A.Z in different DNA regulatory elements. METHODS We performed Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing assays (ChiP-seq) with total H2A.Z and acetylated H2A.Z (acH2A.Z) antibodies and analyzed published data from ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, bromouridine labeling-UV and sequencing (BruUV-seq), Hi-C and ATAC-seq (Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing) in the pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1. RESULTS The results indicate that total H2A.Z facilitates the recruitment of RNA polymerase II and transcription factors at promoters and enhancers allowing the expression of pro-oncogenic genes. Interestingly, we demonstrated that H2A.Z is enriched in super-enhancers (SEs) contributing to the transcriptional activation of key genes implicated in tumor development. Importantly, we established that H2A.Z contributes to the three-dimensional (3D) genome organization of pancreatic cancer and that it is a component of the Topological Associated Domains (TADs) boundaries in PANC-1 and that total H2A.Z and acH2A.Z are associated with A and B compartments, respectively. CONCLUSIONS H2A.Z participates in the biology and development of pancreatic cancer by generating a pro-oncogenic transcriptome through its posttranslational modifications, interactions with different partners, and regulatory elements, contributing to the oncogenic 3D genome organization. These data allow us to understand the molecular mechanisms that promote an oncogenic transcriptome in pancreatic cancer mediated by H2A.Z.
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30
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Kashkin KN, Kotova ES, Alekseenko IV, Bulanenkova SS, Akopov SB, Kopantzev EP, Nikolaev LG, Chernov IP, Didych DA. Efficient Selection of Enhancers and Promoters from MIA PaCa-2 Pancreatic Cancer Cells by ChIP-lentiMPRA. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315011. [PMID: 36499347 PMCID: PMC9740945 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
A library of active genome regulatory elements (putative promoters and enhancers) from MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells was constructed using a specially designed lentiviral vector and a massive parallel reporter assay (ChIP-lentiMPRA). Chromatin immunoprecipitation of the cell genomic DNA by H3K27ac antibodies was used for primary enrichment of the library for regulatory elements. Totally, 11,264 unique genome regions, many of which are capable of enhancing the expression of the CopGFP reporter gene from the minimal CMV promoter, were identified. The regions tend to be located near promoters. Based on the proximity assay, we found an enrichment of highly expressed genes among those associated with three or more mapped distal regions (2 kb distant from the 5'-ends of genes). It was shown significant enrichment of genes related to carcinogenesis or Mia PaCa-2 cell identity genes in this group. In contrast, genes associated with 1-2 distal regions or only with proximal regions (within 2 kbp of the 5'-ends of genes) are more often related to housekeeping functions. Thus, ChIP-lentiMPRA is a useful strategy for creating libraries of regulatory elements for the study of tumor-specific gene transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Nikitich Kashkin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Sergeevna Kotova
- Laboratory of Human Molecular Genetics, Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Malaya Pirogovskaya Street, 1a, 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina Vasilievna Alekseenko
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Svetlana Sergeevna Bulanenkova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey Borisovich Akopov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eugene Pavlovich Kopantzev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Lev Grigorievich Nikolaev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor Pavlovich Chernov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry Alexandrovich Didych
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya, 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-919-777-4620
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31
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Giannareas N, Zhang Q, Yang X, Na R, Tian Y, Yang Y, Ruan X, Huang D, Yang X, Wang C, Zhang P, Manninen A, Wang L, Wei GH. Extensive germline-somatic interplay contributes to prostate cancer progression through HNF1B co-option of TMPRSS2-ERG. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7320. [PMID: 36443337 PMCID: PMC9705428 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34994-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have identified 270 loci conferring risk for prostate cancer (PCa), yet the underlying biology and clinical impact remain to be investigated. Here we observe an enrichment of transcription factor genes including HNF1B within PCa risk-associated regions. While focused on the 17q12/HNF1B locus, we find a strong eQTL for HNF1B and multiple potential causal variants involved in the regulation of HNF1B expression in PCa. An unbiased genome-wide co-expression analysis reveals PCa-specific somatic TMPRSS2-ERG fusion as a transcriptional mediator of this locus and the HNF1B eQTL signal is ERG fusion status dependent. We investigate the role of HNF1B and find its involvement in several pathways related to cell cycle progression and PCa severity. Furthermore, HNF1B interacts with TMPRSS2-ERG to co-occupy large proportion of genomic regions with a remarkable enrichment of additional PCa risk alleles. We finally show that HNF1B co-opts ERG fusion to mediate mechanistic and biological effects of the PCa risk-associated locus 17p13.3/VPS53/FAM57A/GEMIN4. Taken together, we report an extensive germline-somatic interaction between TMPRSS2-ERG fusion and genetic variations underpinning PCa risk association and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Giannareas
- Disease Networks Research Unit, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine & Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Qin Zhang
- Disease Networks Research Unit, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine & Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Xiayun Yang
- Disease Networks Research Unit, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine & Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Rong Na
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yijun Tian
- Department of Tumour Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Yuehong Yang
- Disease Networks Research Unit, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine & Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Xiaohao Ruan
- Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Da Huang
- Department of Urology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoqun Yang
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chaofu Wang
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center & MOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Aki Manninen
- Disease Networks Research Unit, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine & Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Tumour Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Gong-Hong Wei
- Disease Networks Research Unit, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine & Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center & MOE Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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32
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Krebs N, Klein L, Wegwitz F, Espinet E, Maurer HC, Tu M, Penz F, Küffer S, Xu X, Bohnenberger H, Cameron S, Brunner M, Neesse A, Kishore U, Hessmann E, Trumpp A, Ströbel P, Brekken RA, Ellenrieder V, Singh SK. Axon guidance receptor ROBO3 modulates subtype identity and prognosis via AXL-associated inflammatory network in pancreatic cancer. JCI Insight 2022; 7:154475. [PMID: 35993361 PMCID: PMC9462476 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.154475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic pancreatic cancer (PDAC) has a poor clinical outcome with a 5-year survival rate below 3%. Recent transcriptome profiling of PDAC biopsies has identified 2 clinically distinct subtypes - the "basal-like" (BL) subtype with poor prognosis and therapy resistance compared with the less aggressive and drug-susceptible "classical" (CLA) subtype. However, the mechanistic events and environmental factors that promote the BL subtype identity are not very clear. Using preclinical models, patient-derived xenografts, and FACS-sorted PDAC patient biopsies, we report here that the axon guidance receptor, roundabout guidance receptor 3 (ROBO3), promotes the BL metastatic program via a potentially unique AXL/IL-6/phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) regulatory axis. RNA-Seq identified a ROBO3-mediated BL-specific gene program, while tyrosine kinase profiling revealed AXL as the key mediator of the p-STAT3 activation. CRISPR/dCas9-based ROBO3 silencing disrupted the AXL/p-STAT3 signaling axis, thereby halting metastasis and enhancing therapy sensitivity. Transcriptome analysis of resected patient tumors revealed that AXLhi neoplastic cells associated with the inflammatory stromal program. Combining AXL inhibitor and chemotherapy substantially restored a CLA phenotypic state and reduced disease aggressiveness. Thus, we conclude that a ROBO3-driven hierarchical network determines the inflammatory and prometastatic programs in a specific PDAC subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Krebs
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and
| | - Lukas Klein
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and
| | - Florian Wegwitz
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisa Espinet
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,HI-STEM: The Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapy, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology Program (Oncobell), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hans Carlo Maurer
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Mengyu Tu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and
| | - Frederike Penz
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and
| | | | - Xingbo Xu
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, and
| | | | - Silke Cameron
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and
| | - Marius Brunner
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and
| | - Albrecht Neesse
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and,Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uday Kishore
- Biosciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Elisabeth Hessmann
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and,Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Trumpp
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,HI-STEM: The Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology,,Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rolf A. Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Departments of Surgery and Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Volker Ellenrieder
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and,Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Shiv K. Singh
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and,Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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ID1 marks the tumorigenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in mouse and human. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13555. [PMID: 35941362 PMCID: PMC9359991 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17827-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly disease that has an increasing death rate but no effective treatment to now. Although biological and immunological hallmarks of PDAC have been frequently reported recently, early detection and the particularly aggressive biological features are the major challenges remaining unclear. In the current study, we retrieved multiple scRNA-seq datasets and illustrated the genetic programs of PDAC development in genetically modified mouse models. Notably, the transcription levels of Id1 were elevated specifically along with the PDAC development. Pseudotime trajectory analysis revealed that Id1 was closely correlated with the malignancy of PDAC. The gene expression patterns of human PDAC cells were determined by the comparative analysis of the scRNA-seq data on human PDAC and normal pancreas tissues. ID1 levels in human PDAC cancer cells were dramatically increased compared to normal epithelial cells. ID1 deficiency in vitro significantly blunt the invasive tumor-formation related phenotypes. IPA analysis on the differentially expressed genes suggested that EIF2 signaling was the core pathway regulating the development of PDAC. Blocking EFI2 signaling remarkably decreased the expression of ID1 and attenuated the tumor-formation related phenotypes. These observations confirmed that ID1 was regulated by EIF2 signaling and was the critical determinator of PDAC development and progression. This study suggests that ID1 is a potential malignant biomarker of PDAC in both mouse models and human and detecting and targeting ID1 may be a promising strategy to treat or even rescue PDAC.
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Kato H, Tateishi K, Fujiwara H, Nakatsuka T, Yamamoto K, Kudo Y, Hayakawa Y, Nakagawa H, Tanaka Y, Ijichi H, Otsuka M, Iwadate D, Oyama H, Kanai S, Noguchi K, Suzuki T, Sato T, Hakuta R, Ishigaki K, Saito K, Saito T, Takahara N, Kishikawa T, Hamada T, Takahashi R, Miyabayashi K, Mizuno S, Kogure H, Nakai Y, Hirata Y, Toyoda A, Ichikawa K, Qu W, Morishita S, Arita J, Tanaka M, Ushiku T, Hasegawa K, Fujishiro M, Koike K. MNX1-HNF1B Axis Is Indispensable for Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm Lineages. Gastroenterology 2022; 162:1272-1287.e16. [PMID: 34953915 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.12.254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Chromatin architecture governs cell lineages by regulating the specific gene expression; however, its role in the diversity of cancer development remains unknown. Among pancreatic cancers, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) with an associated invasive carcinoma (IPMNinv) arise from 2 distinct precursors, and their fundamental differences remain obscure. Here, we aimed to assess the difference of chromatin architecture regulating the transcriptional signatures or biological features in pancreatic cancers. METHODS We established 28 human organoids from distinct subtypes of pancreatic tumors, including IPMN, IPMNinv, and PDAC. We performed exome sequencing (seq), RNA-seq, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin-seq, chromatin immunoprecipitation-seq, high-throughput chromosome conformation capture, and phenotypic analyses with short hairpin RNA or clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats interference. RESULTS Established organoids successfully reproduced the histology of primary tumors. IPMN and IPMNinv organoids harbored GNAS, RNF43, or KLF4 mutations and showed the distinct expression profiles compared with PDAC. Chromatin accessibility profiles revealed the gain of stomach-specific open regions in IPMN and the pattern of diverse gastrointestinal tissues in IPMNinv. In contrast, PDAC presented an impressive loss of accessible regions compared with normal pancreatic ducts. Transcription factor footprint analysis and functional assays identified that MNX1 and HNF1B were biologically indispensable for IPMN lineages. The upregulation of MNX1 was specifically marked in the human IPMN lineage tissues. The MNX1-HNF1B axis governed a set of genes, including MYC, SOX9, and OLFM4, which are known to be essential for gastrointestinal stem cells. High-throughput chromosome conformation capture analysis suggested the HNF1B target genes to be 3-dimensionally connected in the genome of IPMNinv. CONCLUSIONS Our organoid analyses identified the MNX1-HNF1B axis to be biologically significant in IPMN lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keisuke Tateishi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Hiroaki Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Division of Gastroenterology, The Institute for Adult Diseases, Asahi Life Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuma Nakatsuka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keisuke Yamamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yotaro Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoku Hayakawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hayato Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuo Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideaki Ijichi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motoyuki Otsuka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Dosuke Iwadate
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Oyama
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sachiko Kanai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kensaku Noguchi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsunori Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Sato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryunosuke Hakuta
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunaga Ishigaki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kei Saito
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomotaka Saito
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naminatsu Takahara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kishikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Hamada
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryota Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Miyabayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Suguru Mizuno
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Kogure
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yousuke Nakai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Endoscopy and Endoscopic Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Hirata
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kazuki Ichikawa
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Wei Qu
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shinichi Morishita
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Junichi Arita
- Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mariko Tanaka
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Ushiku
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Hasegawa
- Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Fujishiro
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Koike
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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35
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Martinez-Ara M, Comoglio F, van Arensbergen J, van Steensel B. Systematic analysis of intrinsic enhancer-promoter compatibility in the mouse genome. Mol Cell 2022; 82:2519-2531.e6. [PMID: 35594855 PMCID: PMC9278412 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Martinez-Ara
- Division of Gene Regulation and Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Federico Comoglio
- Division of Gene Regulation and Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joris van Arensbergen
- Division of Gene Regulation and Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bas van Steensel
- Division of Gene Regulation and Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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36
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Zinc Finger E-Box Binding Homeobox 2 as a Prognostic Biomarker in Various Cancers and Its Correlation with Infiltrating Immune Cells in Ovarian Cancer. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:1203-1214. [PMID: 35723302 PMCID: PMC8947672 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44030079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the expression of zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2), its prognostic significance in various cancers, and the correlation between ZEB2 and infiltrating immune cells and ZEB2-related proteins in ovarian cancer (OV). The Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis tool was used to analyze RNA sequencing data and cancer survival rates, based on normal and tumor tissue data available in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The Kaplan–Meier plotter and PrognoScan databases were used to analyze the prognostic value of ZEB2 in OV (n = 1144). The Tumor Immune Estimation Resource was used to investigate the correlation between ZEB2 and infiltrating immune cells in various cancers, including OV. High ZEB2 expression was associated with a poorer prognosis in OV. In OV, ZEB2 is positively correlated with CD8+T cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cell invasion; and ZEB2 is negatively correlated with tumor-infiltrating B cells. The STRING database was used to investigate the correlations with ZEB2-related proteins. The results reveal that ZEB2 was positively correlated with SMAD1 and SMAD2 in OV. Our findings may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker, and provide novel insights into the tumor immunology in OV. Thus, ZEB2 may be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in OV.
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37
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Identification of the gene expression changes and gene regulatory aspects in ELF3 mutant bladder cancer. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:3135-3147. [PMID: 35199247 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07145-2] [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: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent genome-wide studies revealed the molecular subtypes and mutational landscape of bladder cancer, which is the 10th most common cancer causing many deaths. ELF3 is one of the frequently mutated genes in bladder cancer with 14% alteration rate. It mainly functions as an epithelial transcription factor and its proper function is critical for the urothelium development. However, the impact of ELF3 mutations in bladder cancer is currently unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS In this study, we analysed the gene expression data available for primary bladder cancer and bladder cancer cell lines according to the mutation status of ELF3. Our results show that de-regulated genes common in cell lines and primary tissue are primarily involved in ameboidal type cell migration and cell-cell junction organization. Additionally, we identify that ELF3-mutant cases in primary samples significantly overexpress PIK3C2B and ELF3 and PIK3C2B and ELF3 are significantly co-mutated in many cancer types. Our integrative analysis with existing Hi-C data further revealed the genes proximally located to ELF3, including PIK3C2B to be upregulated in ELF3 mutant cases, potentially as a result of truncated ELF3 protein product and subsequent changes in regulatory interactions. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide important insights about how ELF3 mutation contributes to bladder tumorigenesis and uncover previously unknown dependencies.
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38
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Krauß L, Urban BC, Hastreiter S, Schneider C, Wenzel P, Hassan Z, Wirth M, Lankes K, Terrasi A, Klement C, Cernilogar FM, Öllinger R, de Andrade Krätzig N, Engleitner T, Schmid RM, Steiger K, Rad R, Krämer OH, Reichert M, Schotta G, Saur D, Schneider G. HDAC2 Facilitates Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis. Cancer Res 2022; 82:695-707. [PMID: 34903606 PMCID: PMC9359718 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-3209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The mortality of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is strongly associated with metastasis, a multistep process that is incompletely understood in this disease. Although genetic drivers of PDAC metastasis have not been defined, transcriptional and epigenetic rewiring can contribute to the metastatic process. The epigenetic eraser histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) has been connected to less differentiated PDAC, but the function of HDAC2 in PDAC has not been comprehensively evaluated. Using genetically defined models, we show that HDAC2 is a cellular fitness factor that controls cell cycle in vitro and metastasis in vivo, particularly in undifferentiated, mesenchymal PDAC cells. Unbiased expression profiling detected a core set of HDAC2-regulated genes. HDAC2 controlled expression of several prosurvival receptor tyrosine kinases connected to mesenchymal PDAC, including PDGFRα, PDGFRβ, and EGFR. The HDAC2-maintained program disabled the tumor-suppressive arm of the TGFβ pathway, explaining impaired metastasis formation of HDAC2-deficient PDAC. These data identify HDAC2 as a tractable player in the PDAC metastatic cascade. The complexity of the function of epigenetic regulators like HDAC2 implicates that an increased understanding of these proteins is needed for implementation of effective epigenetic therapies. SIGNIFICANCE HDAC2 has a context-specific role in undifferentiated PDAC and the capacity to disseminate systemically, implicating HDAC2 as targetable protein to prevent metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Krauß
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Bettina C. Urban
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Sieglinde Hastreiter
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Carolin Schneider
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Patrick Wenzel
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Zonera Hassan
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Matthias Wirth
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, German
| | - Katharina Lankes
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Andrea Terrasi
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christine Klement
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Filippo M. Cernilogar
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Rupert Öllinger
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Niklas de Andrade Krätzig
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Thomas Engleitner
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Roland M. Schmid
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Katja Steiger
- Institute of Pathology, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roland Rad
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver H. Krämer
- Department of Toxicology, University of Mainz Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Maximilian Reichert
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gunnar Schotta
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Dieter Saur
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Translational Cancer Research and Experimental Cancer Therapy, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
| | - Günter Schneider
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, München, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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39
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D’Agosto S, Pezzini F, Veghini L, Delfino P, Fiorini C, Temgue Tane GD, Del Curatolo A, Vicentini C, Ferrari G, Pasini D, Andreani S, Lupo F, Fiorini E, Lorenzon G, Lawlor RT, Rusev B, Malinova A, Luchini C, Milella M, Sereni E, Pea A, Bassi C, Bailey P, Scarpa A, Bria E, Corbo V. Loss of FGFR4 promotes the malignant phenotype of PDAC. Oncogene 2022; 41:4371-4384. [PMID: 35963908 PMCID: PMC9481460 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02432-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptomic analyses of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have identified two major epithelial subtypes with distinct biology and clinical behaviours. Here, we aimed to clarify the role of FGFR1 and FGFR4 in the definition of aggressive PDAC phenotypes. We found that the expression of FGFR4 is exclusively detected in epithelial cells, significantly elevated in the classical PDAC subtype, and associates with better outcomes. In highly aggressive basal-like/squamous PDAC, reduced FGFR4 expression aligns with hypermethylation of the gene and lower levels of histone marks associated with active transcription in its regulatory regions. Conversely, FGFR1 has more promiscuous expression in both normal and malignant pancreatic tissues and is strongly associated with the EMT phenotype but not with the basal-like cell lineage. Regardless of the genetic background, the increased proliferation of FGFR4-depleted PDAC cells correlates with hyperactivation of the mTORC1 pathway both in vitro and in vivo. Downregulation of FGFR4 in classical cell lines invariably leads to the enrichment of basal-like/squamous gene programs and is associated with either partial or full switch of phenotype. In sum, we show that endogenous levels of FGFR4 limit the malignant phenotype of PDAC cells. Finally, we propose FGFR4 as a valuable marker for the stratification of PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina D’Agosto
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy ,grid.510779.d0000 0004 9414 6915Present Address: Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Pezzini
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Lisa Veghini
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Pietro Delfino
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Claudia Fiorini
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gael D. Temgue Tane
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Anais Del Curatolo
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XARC-Net Research Centre, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Caterina Vicentini
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XARC-Net Research Centre, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giorgia Ferrari
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Davide Pasini
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Silvia Andreani
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Lupo
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Elena Fiorini
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giulia Lorenzon
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Rita T. Lawlor
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XARC-Net Research Centre, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Borislav Rusev
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XARC-Net Research Centre, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Antonia Malinova
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Claudio Luchini
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Michele Milella
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Medicine, Section of Oncology, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Sereni
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Surgery, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, “Pancreas Institute”, Verona, Italy
| | - Antonio Pea
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Surgery, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, “Pancreas Institute”, Verona, Italy
| | - Claudio Bassi
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Surgery, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, “Pancreas Institute”, Verona, Italy
| | - Peter Bailey
- grid.8756.c0000 0001 2193 314XInstitute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK ,grid.23636.320000 0000 8821 5196Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK ,grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of General Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy ,grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XARC-Net Research Centre, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Emilio Bria
- grid.411075.60000 0004 1760 4193Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy ,grid.8142.f0000 0001 0941 3192Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Corbo
- grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XDepartment of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy ,grid.411475.20000 0004 1756 948XARC-Net Research Centre, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
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van Roey R, Brabletz T, Stemmler MP, Armstark I. Deregulation of Transcription Factor Networks Driving Cell Plasticity and Metastasis in Pancreatic Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:753456. [PMID: 34888306 PMCID: PMC8650502 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.753456] [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: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a very aggressive disease with 5-year survival rates of less than 10%. The constantly increasing incidence and stagnant patient outcomes despite changes in treatment regimens emphasize the requirement of a better understanding of the disease mechanisms. Challenges in treating pancreatic cancer include diagnosis at already progressed disease states due to the lack of early detection methods, rapid acquisition of therapy resistance, and high metastatic competence. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most prevalent type of pancreatic cancer, frequently shows dominant-active mutations in KRAS and TP53 as well as inactivation of genes involved in differentiation and cell-cycle regulation (e.g. SMAD4 and CDKN2A). Besides somatic mutations, deregulated transcription factor activities strongly contribute to disease progression. Specifically, transcriptional regulatory networks essential for proper lineage specification and differentiation during pancreas development are reactivated or become deregulated in the context of cancer and exacerbate progression towards an aggressive phenotype. This review summarizes the recent literature on transcription factor networks and epigenetic gene regulation that play a crucial role during tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruthger van Roey
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Brabletz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marc P Stemmler
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Isabell Armstark
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Chromatin-Independent Interplay of NFATc1 and EZH2 in Pancreatic Cancer. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123463. [PMID: 34943970 PMCID: PMC8700089 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The Nuclear Factor of Activated T-cells 1 (NFATc1) transcription factor and the methyltransferase Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) significantly contribute to the aggressive phenotype of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Herein, we aimed at dissecting the mechanistic background of their interplay in PDAC progression. Methods: NFATc1 and EZH2 mRNA and protein expression and complex formation were determined in transgenic PDAC models and human PDAC specimens. NFATc1 binding on the Ezh2 gene and the consequences of perturbed NFATc1 expression on Ezh2 transcription were explored by Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and upon transgenic or siRNA-mediated interference with NFATc1 expression, respectively. Integrative analyses of RNA- and ChIP-seq data was performed to explore NFATc1-/EZH2-dependent gene signatures. Results: NFATc1 targets the Ezh2 gene for transcriptional activation and biochemically interacts with the methyltransferase in murine and human PDAC. Surprisingly, our genome-wide binding and expression analyses do not link the protein complex to joint gene regulation. In contrast, our findings provide evidence for chromatin-independent functions of the NFATc1:EZH2 complex and reveal posttranslational EZH2 phosphorylation at serine 21 as a prerequisite for robust complex formation. Conclusion: Our findings disclose a previously unknown NFATc1-EZH2 axis operational in the pancreas and provide mechanistic insights into the conditions fostering NFATc1:EZH2 complex formation in PDAC.
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Ewers KM, Patil S, Kopp W, Thomale J, Quilitz T, Magerhans A, Wang X, Hessmann E, Dobbelstein M. HSP90 Inhibition Synergizes with Cisplatin to Eliminate Basal-like Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13246163. [PMID: 34944784 PMCID: PMC8699576 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pancreatic cancer is currently difficult to treat, but the drug cisplatin represents one of the most important therapeutic options. We find that cells derived from this cancer fall into two classes regarding their sensitivity towards cisplatin, and we observe that cells with high expression levels of GATA6 and microRNA 200 are mostly sensitive. However, those cells that respond poorly to cisplatin can be sensitized by drugs that inhibit HSP90, a protein that helps other proteins to fold properly. This was also found in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Our results suggest that the combination of cisplatin with HSP90-inhibitory drugs might improve the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Abstract To improve the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a promising strategy consists of personalized chemotherapy based on gene expression profiles. Investigating a panel of PDAC-derived human cell lines, we found that their sensitivities towards cisplatin fall in two distinct classes. The platinum-sensitive class is characterized by the expression of GATA6, miRNA-200a, and miRNA-200b, which might be developable as predictive biomarkers. In the case of resistant PDAC cells, we identified a synergism of cisplatin with HSP90 inhibitors. Mechanistic explanations of this synergy include the degradation of Fanconi anemia pathway factors upon HSP90 inhibition. Treatment with the drug combination resulted in increased DNA damage and chromosome fragmentation, as we have reported previously for ovarian cancer cells. On top of this, HSP90 inhibition also enhanced the accumulation of DNA-bound platinum. We next investigated an orthotopic syngeneic animal model consisting of tumors arising from KPC cells (LSL-KrasG12D/+; LSL-Trp53R172H/+; Pdx-1-Cre, C57/BL6 genetic background). Here again, when treating established tumors, the combination of cisplatin with the HSP90 inhibitor onalespib was highly effective and almost completely prevented further tumor growth. We propose that the combination of platinum drugs and HSP90 inhibitors might be worth testing in the clinics for the treatment of cisplatin-resistant PDACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina M. Ewers
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University Medical Center Göttingen, Justus von Liebig Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; (K.M.E.); (T.Q.); (A.M.)
- Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (S.P.); (W.K.); (E.H.)
| | - Shilpa Patil
- Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (S.P.); (W.K.); (E.H.)
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Waltraut Kopp
- Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (S.P.); (W.K.); (E.H.)
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Thomale
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University of Duisburg-Essen Medical School, 45141 Essen, Germany;
| | - Tabea Quilitz
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University Medical Center Göttingen, Justus von Liebig Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; (K.M.E.); (T.Q.); (A.M.)
- Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (S.P.); (W.K.); (E.H.)
| | - Anna Magerhans
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University Medical Center Göttingen, Justus von Liebig Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; (K.M.E.); (T.Q.); (A.M.)
- Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (S.P.); (W.K.); (E.H.)
| | - Xin Wang
- Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China;
| | - Elisabeth Hessmann
- Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (S.P.); (W.K.); (E.H.)
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Dobbelstein
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University Medical Center Göttingen, Justus von Liebig Weg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; (K.M.E.); (T.Q.); (A.M.)
- Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; (S.P.); (W.K.); (E.H.)
- Correspondence:
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Tu M, Klein L, Espinet E, Georgomanolis T, Wegwitz F, Li X, Urbach L, Danieli-Mackay A, Küffer S, Bojarczuk K, Mizi A, Günesdogan U, Chapuy B, Gu Z, Neesse A, Kishore U, Ströbel P, Hessmann E, Hahn SA, Trumpp A, Papantonis A, Ellenrieder V, Singh SK. TNF-α-producing macrophages determine subtype identity and prognosis via AP1 enhancer reprogramming in pancreatic cancer. NATURE CANCER 2021; 2:1185-1203. [PMID: 35122059 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-021-00258-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Large-scale genomic profiling of pancreatic cancer (PDAC) has revealed two distinct subtypes: 'classical' and 'basal-like'. Their variable coexistence within the stromal immune microenvironment is linked to differential prognosis; however, the extent to which these neoplastic subtypes shape the stromal immune landscape and impact clinical outcome remains unclear. By combining preclinical models, patient-derived xenografts, as well as FACS-sorted PDAC patient biopsies, we show that the basal-like neoplastic state is sustained via BRD4-mediated cJUN/AP1 expression, which induces CCL2 to recruit tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-secreting macrophages. TNF-α+ macrophages force classical neoplastic cells into an aggressive phenotypic state via lineage reprogramming. Integration of ATAC-, ChIP- and RNA-seq data revealed distinct JUNB/AP1 (classical) and cJUN/AP1 (basal-like)-driven regulation of PDAC subtype identity. Pharmacological inhibition of BRD4 led to suppression of the BRD4-cJUN-CCL2-TNF-α axis, restoration of classical subtype identity and a favorable prognosis. Hence, patient-tailored therapy for a cJUNhigh/TNF-αhigh subtype is paramount in overcoming highly inflamed and aggressive PDAC states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Tu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lukas Klein
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisa Espinet
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbh), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Florian Wegwitz
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Xiaojuan Li
- Department of Developmental Biology, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Laura Urbach
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Adi Danieli-Mackay
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Küffer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kamil Bojarczuk
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Athanasia Mizi
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ufuk Günesdogan
- Department of Developmental Biology, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Björn Chapuy
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Zuguang Gu
- Bioinformatics and Omics Data Analytics, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Albrecht Neesse
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uday Kishore
- Biosciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Hessmann
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stephan A Hahn
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular GI Oncology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Andreas Trumpp
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbh), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Argyris Papantonis
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Volker Ellenrieder
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Shiv K Singh
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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Cai C, Bi D, Bick G, Wei Q, Liu H, Lu L, Zhang X, Qin H. Hepatocyte nuclear factor HNF1A is a potential regulator in shaping the super-enhancer landscape in colorectal cancer liver metastasis. FEBS Lett 2021; 595:3056-3071. [PMID: 34719039 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Super-enhancers (SEs) play essential roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. However, how the SE landscape is orchestrated by transcriptional regulators and evolves is not clear. Using de novo motif analysis, we show that the hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF1)-binding motif is enriched in SEs in cell lines derived from liver metastases, but not in those from primary tumors. This finding was further validated by extending the method to pancreatic cancer and a pair of isogenic CRC lines. Next, we revealed HNF1-alpha (HNF1A) was majorly expressed and upregulated in CRC liver metastatic cell lines. Clinically, HNF1A was remarkably upregulated in synchronous liver metastases as compared to localized tumors. Collectively, our study implicates HNF1A as a key regulator in shaping the SE landscape in CRC liver metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmiao Cai
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dexi Bi
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Gregory Bick
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH, USA
| | - Qing Wei
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hu Liu
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Lu
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoting Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH, USA
| | - Huanlong Qin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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45
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Del Poggetto E, Ho IL, Balestrieri C, Yen EY, Zhang S, Citron F, Shah R, Corti D, Diaferia GR, Li CY, Loponte S, Carbone F, Hayakawa Y, Valenti G, Jiang S, Sapio L, Jiang H, Dey P, Gao S, Deem AK, Rose-John S, Yao W, Ying H, Rhim AD, Genovese G, Heffernan TP, Maitra A, Wang TC, Wang L, Draetta GF, Carugo A, Natoli G, Viale A. Epithelial memory of inflammation limits tissue damage while promoting pancreatic tumorigenesis. Science 2021; 373:eabj0486. [PMID: 34529467 PMCID: PMC9733946 DOI: 10.1126/science.abj0486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Inflammation is a major risk factor for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). When occurring in the context of pancreatitis, KRAS mutations accelerate tumor development in mouse models. We report that long after its complete resolution, a transient inflammatory event primes pancreatic epithelial cells to subsequent transformation by oncogenic KRAS. Upon recovery from acute inflammation, pancreatic epithelial cells display an enduring adaptive response associated with sustained transcriptional and epigenetic reprogramming. Such adaptation enables the reactivation of acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) upon subsequent inflammatory events, thereby limiting tissue damage through a rapid decrease of zymogen production. We propose that because activating mutations of KRAS maintain an irreversible ADM, they may be beneficial and under strong positive selection in the context of recurrent pancreatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Del Poggetto
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - I-Lin Ho
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Chiara Balestrieri
- Experimental Hematology Unit, San Raffaele Research Hospital, Milan 20132, Italy
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Er-Yen Yen
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shaojun Zhang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Francesca Citron
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rutvi Shah
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Denise Corti
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Giuseppe R Diaferia
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan 20139, Italy
| | - Chieh-Yuan Li
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sara Loponte
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Federica Carbone
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yoku Hayakawa
- Department of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Giovanni Valenti
- Department of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Shan Jiang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Luigi Sapio
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Prasenjit Dey
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sisi Gao
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Angela K Deem
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Stefan Rose-John
- Department of Biochemistry, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel 24098, Germany
| | - Wantong Yao
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Haoqiang Ying
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Andrew D Rhim
- Department of Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Giannicola Genovese
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Timothy P Heffernan
- TRACTION, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Anirban Maitra
- Sheikh Ahmed Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Timothy C Wang
- Department of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Linghua Wang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Giulio F Draetta
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Alessandro Carugo
- TRACTION, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gioacchino Natoli
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan 20139, Italy
- Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan 20089, Italy
| | - Andrea Viale
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Paranjapye A, NandyMazumdar M, Browne JA, Leir SH, Harris A. Krüppel-like factor 5 regulates wound repair and the innate immune response in human airway epithelial cells. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:100932. [PMID: 34217701 PMCID: PMC8353497 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A complex network of transcription factors regulates genes involved in establishing and maintaining key biological properties of the human airway epithelium. However, detailed knowledge of the contributing factors is incomplete. Here we characterize the role of Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5), in controlling essential pathways of epithelial cell identity and function in the human lung. RNA-seq following siRNA-mediated depletion of KLF5 in the Calu-3 lung epithelial cell line identified significant enrichment of genes encoding chemokines and cytokines involved in the proinflammatory response and also components of the junctional complexes mediating cell adhesion. To determine direct gene targets of KLF5, we defined the cistrome of KLF5 using ChIP-seq in both Calu-3 and 16HBE14o- lung epithelial cell lines. Occupancy site concordance analysis revealed that KLF5 colocalized with the active histone modification H3K27ac and also with binding sites for the transcription factor CCAAT enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPβ). Depletion of KLF5 increased both the expression and secretion of cytokines including IL-1β, a response that was enhanced following exposure to Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide. Calu-3 cells exhibited faster rates of repair after KLF5 depletion compared with negative controls in wound scratch assays. Similarly, CRISPR-mediated KLF5-null 16HBE14o- cells also showed enhanced wound closure. These data reveal a pivotal role for KLF5 in coordinating epithelial functions relevant to human lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alekh Paranjapye
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Monali NandyMazumdar
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - James A Browne
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Shih-Hsing Leir
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Ann Harris
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
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Milan M, Diaferia GR, Natoli G. Tumor cell heterogeneity and its transcriptional bases in pancreatic cancer: a tale of two cell types and their many variants. EMBO J 2021; 40:e107206. [PMID: 33844319 PMCID: PMC8246061 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020107206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the most highly lethal tumors, is characterized by complex histology, with a massive fibrotic stroma in which both pseudo-glandular structures and compact nests of abnormally differentiated tumor cells are embedded, in different proportions and with different mutual relationships in space. This complexity and the heterogeneity of the tumor component have hindered the development of a broadly accepted, clinically actionable classification of PDACs, either on a morphological or a molecular basis. Here, we discuss evidence suggesting that such heterogeneity can to a large extent, albeit not exclusively, be traced back to two main classes of PDAC cells that commonly coexist in the same tumor: cells that maintained their ability to differentiate toward endodermal, mucin-producing epithelia and epithelial cells unable to form glandular structures and instead characterized by various levels of squamous differentiation and the expression of mesenchymal lineage genes. The underlying gene regulatory networks and how they are controlled by distinct transcription factors, as well as the practical implications of these two different populations of tumor cells, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Milan
- Department of Experimental OncologyEuropean Institute of Oncology (IEO) IRCCSMilanItaly
- Present address:
The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| | - Giuseppe R Diaferia
- Department of Experimental OncologyEuropean Institute of Oncology (IEO) IRCCSMilanItaly
| | - Gioacchino Natoli
- Department of Experimental OncologyEuropean Institute of Oncology (IEO) IRCCSMilanItaly
- Humanitas UniversityMilanItaly
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Venkat S, Alahmari AA, Feigin ME. Drivers of Gene Expression Dysregulation in Pancreatic Cancer. Trends Cancer 2021; 7:594-605. [PMID: 33618999 PMCID: PMC8217125 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a devastating disease with a poor prognosis. The functional consequences of common genetic aberrations and their roles in treatment strategies have been extensively reviewed. In addition to these genomic aberrations, consideration of non-genetic drivers of altered oncogene expression is essential to account for the diversity in PDAC phenotypes. In this review we seek to assess our current understanding of mechanisms of gene expression dysregulation. We focus on four drivers of gene expression dysregulation, including mutations, transcription factors, epigenetic regulators, and RNA stability/isoform regulation, in the context of PDAC pathogenesis. Recent studies provide much-needed insight into the role of gene expression dysregulation in dissecting tumor heterogeneity and stratifying patients for the development of personalized treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Venkat
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Abdulrahman A Alahmari
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael E Feigin
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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Chiou J, Geusz RJ, Okino ML, Han JY, Miller M, Melton R, Beebe E, Benaglio P, Huang S, Korgaonkar K, Heller S, Kleger A, Preissl S, Gorkin DU, Sander M, Gaulton KJ. Interpreting type 1 diabetes risk with genetics and single-cell epigenomics. Nature 2021; 594:398-402. [PMID: 34012112 PMCID: PMC10560508 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03552-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Genetic risk variants that have been identified in genome-wide association studies of complex diseases are primarily non-coding1. Translating these risk variants into mechanistic insights requires detailed maps of gene regulation in disease-relevant cell types2. Here we combined two approaches: a genome-wide association study of type 1 diabetes (T1D) using 520,580 samples, and the identification of candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) in pancreas and peripheral blood mononuclear cells using single-nucleus assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (snATAC-seq) of 131,554 nuclei. Risk variants for T1D were enriched in cCREs that were active in T cells and other cell types, including acinar and ductal cells of the exocrine pancreas. Risk variants at multiple T1D signals overlapped with exocrine-specific cCREs that were linked to genes with exocrine-specific expression. At the CFTR locus, the T1D risk variant rs7795896 mapped to a ductal-specific cCRE that regulated CFTR; the risk allele reduced transcription factor binding, enhancer activity and CFTR expression in ductal cells. These findings support a role for the exocrine pancreas in the pathogenesis of T1D and highlight the power of large-scale genome-wide association studies and single-cell epigenomics for understanding the cellular origins of complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Chiou
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer Worldwide Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Ryan J Geusz
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mei-Lin Okino
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jee Yun Han
- Center for Epigenomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael Miller
- Center for Epigenomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca Melton
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Elisha Beebe
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Paola Benaglio
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Serina Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Katha Korgaonkar
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sandra Heller
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Sebastian Preissl
- Center for Epigenomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David U Gorkin
- Center for Epigenomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Maike Sander
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kyle J Gaulton
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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50
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C646 inhibits G2/M cell cycle-related proteins and potentiates anti-tumor effects in pancreatic cancer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10078. [PMID: 33980911 PMCID: PMC8115044 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89530-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The activity of histone acetyltransferases (HATs) plays a central role in an epigenetic modification in cooperation with HDACs (histone deacetyl transferases). It is likely that malfunction of this enzymatic machinery controlling epigenetic modification is relevant to carcinogenesis and tumor progression. However, in pancreatic cancer, the clinical relevance of HAT activity and histone acetylation has remained unclear. We identified that H3 acetylation was expressed in all pancreatic cancer patients, indicating that H3 acetylation may be essential in pancreatic cancer cells. We also found that the HAT inhibitor C646 augmented anti-tumor effects in vitro by inhibiting cell proliferation and cell cycle progression concomitantly with suppression of acetylated H3K9 and H3K27 expression. C646 or p300 and CBP (CREB-binding protein)-specific siRNA treatment inhibited the transcription of the G2/M cell cycle regulatory proteins cyclin B1 and CDK1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 1). C646 treatment also inhibited tumor growth in vivo in a xenograft mouse model. C646 could be an effective therapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer. The epigenetic status of pancreatic cancers based on their level of histone H3 acetylation may influence patient survival. Epigenetic stratification according to H3K27 acetylation could be useful for predicting disease prognosis as well as the therapeutic efficacy of C646 in pancreatic cancer.
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