Growth of V79 Cells as Xenograft Tumors Promotes Multicellular Resistance but does not Increase Spontaneous or Radiation-Induced Mutant Frequency

Temporo-spatial cell-cycle kinetics in HeLa cells irradiated by Ir-192 high dose-rate remote afterloading system (HDR-RALS)

Background

Intracavitary irradiation plays a pivotal role in definitive radiotherapy for cervical cancer, and the Ir-192 high dose-rate remote afterloading system (HDR-RALS) is often used for this purpose. Under this condition, tumor tissues receive remarkably different absorption doses, with a steep gradient, depending on distance from the radiation source. To obtain temporo-spatial information regarding cell-cycle kinetics in cervical cancer following irradiation by Ir-192 HDR-RALS, we examined HeLa cells expressing the fluorescence ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator (Fucci), which allowed us to visualize cell-cycle progression.

Methods

HeLa-Fucci cells, which emit red and green fluorescence in G1 and S/G2/M phases, respectively, were grown on 35-mm dishes and irradiated by Ir-192 HDR-RALS under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. A 6 French (Fr) catheter was used as an applicator. A radiation dose of 6 Gy was prescribed at hypothetical treatment point A, located 20 mm from the radiation source. Changes in Fucci fluorescence after irradiation were visualized for cells from 5 to 20 mm from the Ir-192 source. Several indices, including first green phase duration after irradiation (FGPD), were measured by analysis of time-lapse images.

Results

Cells located 5 to 20 mm from the Ir-192 source became green, reflecting arrest in G2, in a similar manner up to 12 h after irradiation; at more distant positions, however, cells were gradually released from the G2 arrest and became red. This could be explained by the observation that the FGPD was longer for cells closer to the radiation source. Detailed observation revealed that FGPD was significantly longer in cells irradiated in the green phase than in the red phase at positions closer to the Ir-192 source. Unexpectedly, the FGPD was significantly longer after irradiation under hypoxia than normoxia, due in large part to the elongation of FGPD in cells irradiated in the red phase.

Conclusion

Using HeLa-Fucci cells, we obtained the first temporo-spatial information about cell-cycle kinetics following irradiation by Ir-192 HDR-RALS. Our findings suggest that the potentially surviving hypoxic cells, especially those arising from positions around point A, exhibit different cell-cycle kinetics from normoxic cells destined to be eradicated.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13014-016-0669-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Quantitative profiling of chromatome dynamics reveals a novel role for HP1BP3 in hypoxia-induced oncogenesis

In contrast to the intensely studied genetic and epigenetic changes that induce host cell transformation to initiate tumor development, those that promote the malignant progression of cancer remain poorly defined. As emerging evidence suggests that the hypoxic tumor microenvironment could re-model the chromatin-associated proteome (chromatome) to induce epigenetic changes and alter gene expression in cancer cells, we hypothesized that hypoxia-driven evolution of the chromatome promotes malignant changes and the development of therapy resistance in tumor cells. To test this hypothesis, we isolated chromatins from tumor cells treated with varying conditions of normoxia, hypoxia, and re-oxygenation and then partially digested them with DNase I and analyzed them for changes in euchromatin- and heterochromatin-associated proteins using an iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic approach. We identified a total of 1446 proteins with a high level of confidence, including 819 proteins that were observed to change their chromatin association topology under hypoxic conditions. These hypoxia-sensitive proteins included key mediators of chromatin organization, transcriptional regulation, and DNA repair. Furthermore, our proteomic and functional experiments revealed a novel role for the chromatin organizer protein HP1BP3 in mediating chromatin condensation during hypoxia, leading to increased tumor cell viability, radio-resistance, chemo-resistance, and self-renewal. Taken together, our findings indicate that HP1BP3 is a key mediator of tumor progression and cancer cell acquisition of therapy-resistant traits, and thus might represent a novel therapeutic target in a range of human malignancies.

Tumor hypoxia as a driving force in genetic instability

Sub-regions of hypoxia exist within all tumors and the presence of intratumoral hypoxia has an adverse impact on patient prognosis. Tumor hypoxia can increase metastatic capacity and lead to resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Hypoxia also leads to altered transcription and translation of a number of DNA damage response and repair genes. This can lead to inhibition of recombination-mediated repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Hypoxia can also increase the rate of mutation. Therefore, tumor cell adaptation to the hypoxic microenvironment can drive genetic instability and malignant progression. In this review, we focus on hypoxia-mediated genetic instability in the context of aberrant DNA damage signaling and DNA repair. Additionally, we discuss potential therapeutic approaches to specifically target repair-deficient hypoxic tumor cells.

Chronic hypoxia compromises repair of DNA double-strand breaks to drive genetic instability

Hypoxic cells have been linked to genetic instability and tumor progression. However, little is known about the exact relationship between DNA repair and genetic instability in hypoxic cells. We therefore tested whether the sensing and repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DNA-dsbs) is altered in irradiated cells kept under continual oxic, hypoxic or anoxic conditions. Synchronized G0–G1 human fibroblasts were irradiated (0–10 Gy) after initial gassing with 0% O2 (anoxia), 0.2% O2 (hypoxia) or 21% O2 (oxia) for 16 hours. The response of phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX), phosphorylated ataxia telangiectasia mutated [ATM(Ser1981)], and the p53 binding protein 1 (53BP1) was quantified by intranuclear DNA repair foci and western blotting. At 24 hours following DNA damage, residual γ-H2AX, ATM(Ser1981) and 53BP1 foci were observed in hypoxic cells. This increase in residual DNA-dsbs under hypoxic conditions was confirmed using neutral comet assays. Clonogenic survival was also reduced in chronically hypoxic cells, which is consistent with the observation of elevated G1-associated residual DNA-dsbs. We also observed an increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in chronically hypoxic cells. We conclude that DNA repair under continued hypoxia leads to decreased repair of G1-associated DNA-dsbs, resulting in increased chromosomal instability. Our findings suggest that aberrant DNA-dsb repair under hypoxia is a potential factor in hypoxia-mediated genetic instability.

Hypoxia and metabolism. Hypoxia, DNA repair and genetic instability

Areas of hypoxic tumour tissue are known to be resistant to treatment and are associated with a poor clinical prognosis. There are several reasons why this might be, including the capacity of hypoxia to drive genomic instability and alter DNA damage repair pathways. Significantly, current models fail to distinguish between the complexities of the hypoxic microenvironment and the biological effects of acute hypoxia exposures versus longer-term, chronic hypoxia exposures on the transcription and translation of proteins involved in genetic stability and cell survival. Acute and chronic hypoxia might lead to different biology within the tumour and this might have a direct effect on the design of new therapies for the treatment of hypoxic tumours.