1
|
Lee S, Choi I. Expression patterns and biological function of Specc1 during mouse preimplantation development. Gene Expr Patterns 2021; 41:119196. [PMID: 34166821 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2021.119196] [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: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Two unique features occur during preimplantation embryo development: 1) initiation of calcium-dependent adhesion and establishment of apicobasal polarity in the morula, and 2) formation of the blastocoel by establishment of tight junctions (TJs), ion channels, and water channels in the outer blastomeres. Although several key genes involved in morula and blastocyst formation have been identified, most remain unknown. Sperm antigen with calponin homology and coiled-coil domains 1(SPECC1) is highly expressed in testis and tumor cells, and is involved in diverse cellular processes such as ribosome biogenesis, rRNA transcription, mitosis, cell growth, and apoptosis in tumor cells. However, spatiotemporal expressions of Specc1 during mouse preimplantation development have not yet been investigated. Here, we examined the expression patterns of Specc1 using qRT-PCR and immunocytochemistry, and its biological function using siRNA injection into 1-cell zygotes. Specc1 was detectable throughout preimplantation development and markedly increased from the morula stage onwards. It was particularly observed in trophectoderm cells, rather than the inner cell mass of blastocyst. Maternal and zygotic Specc1 transcripts were abolished using RNA interference. There were no significant differences in development between Specc1 knock down (KD) and control embryos until the morula stage, but was significantly reduced blastocyst development and increased tight junction permeability in KD embryos, as assessed by FITC uptake. In summary, elevated expression of Specc1 in the morula and blastocyst may affect blastocyst formation, including tight junction complex during the morula to blastocyst transition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seulah Lee
- Division of Animal and Dairy Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Inchul Choi
- Division of Animal and Dairy Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mathkar PP, Chen X, Sulovari A, Li D. Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus Integrations Identified in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Genomes. Viruses 2021; 13:v13020245. [PMID: 33557409 PMCID: PMC7915589 DOI: 10.3390/v13020245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Almost half of HCC cases are associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, which often lead to HBV sequence integrations in the human genome. Accurate identification of HBV integration sites at a single nucleotide resolution is critical for developing a better understanding of the cancer genome landscape and of the disease itself. Here, we performed further analyses and characterization of HBV integrations identified by our recently reported VIcaller platform in recurrent or known HCC genes (such as TERT, MLL4, and CCNE1) as well as non-recurrent cancer-related genes (such as CSMD2, NKD2, and RHOU). Our pathway enrichment analysis revealed multiple pathways involving the alcohol dehydrogenase 4 gene, such as the metabolism pathways of retinol, tyrosine, and fatty acid. Further analysis of the HBV integration sites revealed distinct patterns involving the integration upper breakpoints, integrated genome lengths, and integration allele fractions between tumor and normal tissues. Our analysis also implies that the VIcaller method has diagnostic potential through discovering novel clonal integrations in cancer-related genes. In conclusion, although VIcaller is a hypothesis free virome-wide approach, it can still be applied to accurately identify genome-wide integration events of a specific candidate virus and their integration allele fractions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pranav P. Mathkar
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA; (P.P.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Xun Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA; (P.P.M.); (A.S.)
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
- Correspondence: (X.C.); (D.L.)
| | - Arvis Sulovari
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA; (P.P.M.); (A.S.)
- Cajal Neuroscience Inc., Seattle, WA 98102, USA
| | - Dawei Li
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA; (P.P.M.); (A.S.)
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
- Correspondence: (X.C.); (D.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Nemec PS, Kapatos A, Holmes JC, Stowe DM, Hess PR. Cancer-testis antigens in canine histiocytic sarcoma and other malignancies. Vet Comp Oncol 2019; 17:317-328. [PMID: 30854786 DOI: 10.1111/vco.12475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) are a category of self proteins aberrantly expressed in diverse malignancies, mostly solid tumours, due to epigenetic de-repression. Normally expressed only in fetal or gametogenic tissues, CTAs are tantalizing immunotherapy targets, since autoimmunity risks appear minimal. Few prevalent CTAs have been identified in human hematologic cancers, and just two in their veterinary counterparts. We sought to discover new CTAs in canine hematologic cancers such as histiocytic sarcoma (HS) and lymphoma to foster immunotherapy development. To accomplish this, the ligandome binding the dog leukocyte antigen (DLA)-88*508:01 class I allele overexpressed in an HS line was searched by mass spectrometry to identify possible CTA-derived peptides, which could serve as CD8+ T-cell epitopes. Twenty-two peptides mapped to 5 human CTAs and 12 additional proteins with CTA characteristics. Expression of five promising candidates was then evaluated in tumour and normal tissue by quantitative and end-point RT-PCR. The ortholog of an established CTA, IGF2BP3, had unexpectedly high expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Four other testis-enhanced proteins were also assessed. AKR1E2, SPECC1 and TPX2 were expressed variably in HS and T-cell lymphoma biopsies, but also at high levels in critical tissues, including kidney, brain and marrow, diminishing their utility. A more tissue-restricted candidate, NT5C1B, was detected in T-cell lymphomas, but also at low levels in some normal dog tissues. These results illustrate the feasibility of discovering canine CTAs by a reverse approach, proceeding from identification of MHC class I-presented peptides to a comparative RNA expression survey of tumours and normal tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paige S Nemec
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Alexander Kapatos
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Jennifer C Holmes
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Devorah M Stowe
- Department of Population, Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Paul R Hess
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
P73 is a member of the p53 transcription factors family with a prominent role in neurobiology, affecting brain development as well as controlling neuronal survival. Accordingly, p73 has been identified as key player in many age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, neuroAIDS and Niemann-Pick type C disease. Here we investigate possible correlations of p73 with Parkinson disease. Tyrosine hydroxylase is a crucial player in Parkinson disease being the enzyme necessary for dopamine synthesis. In this work we show that levels of tyrosine hydroxylase can be influenced by p73. We also demonstrate that p73 can protect against tyrosine hydroxylase depletion in an in vitro model of Parkinson disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Grespi
- Medical Research Council, Toxicology Unit, Leicester University, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Genome-wide analysis shows association of epigenetic changes in regulators of Rab and Rho GTPases with spinal muscular atrophy severity. Eur J Hum Genet 2013; 21:988-93. [PMID: 23299920 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2012.293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Revised: 11/29/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a monogenic disorder that is subdivided into four different types and caused by survival motor neuron gene 1 (SMN1) deletion. Discordant cases of SMA suggest that there exist additional severity modifying factors, apart from the SMN2 gene copy number. Here we performed the first genome-wide methylation profiling of SMA patients and healthy individuals to study the association of DNA methylation status with the severity of the SMA phenotype. We identified strong significant differences in methylation level between SMA patients and healthy controls in CpG sites close to the genes CHML, ARHGAP22, CYTSB, CDK2AP1 and SLC23A2. Interestingly, the CHML and ARHGAP22 genes are associated with the activity of Rab and Rho GTPases, which are important regulators of vesicle formation, actin dynamics, axonogenesis, processes that could be critical for SMA development. We suggest that epigenetic modifications may influence the severity of SMA and that these novel genetic positions could prove to be valuable biomarkers for the understanding of SMA pathogenesis.
Collapse
|
6
|
Stauber RH, Knauer SK, Habtemichael N, Bier C, Unruhe B, Weisheit S, Spange S, Nonnenmacher F, Fetz V, Ginter T, Reichardt S, Liebmann C, Schneider G, Krämer OH. A combination of a ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor and histone deacetylase inhibitors downregulates EGFR and triggers BIM-dependent apoptosis in head and neck cancer. Oncotarget 2012; 3:31-43. [PMID: 22289787 PMCID: PMC3292890 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are the sixth most common malignant neoplasm and more than 50% of patients succumb to this disease. HNSCCs are characterized by therapy resistance, which relies on the overexpression of anti-apoptotic proteins and on the aberrant regulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). As inherent and acquired resistance to therapy counteracts improvement of long-term survival, novel multi-targeting strategies triggering cancer cell death are urgently required. We investigated how induction of replicational stress by the ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor hydroxyurea (HU) combined with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) exerts anti-tumor activity. We treated HNSCC cell lines and freshly isolated tumor cells with HDACi, such as the clinically approved anti-epileptic drug valproic acid (VPA), in combination with HU. Our data demonstrate that at clinically achievable levels VPA/HU combinations efficiently block proliferation as well as clonogenic survival, and trigger apoptosis of HNSCC cells. In the presence of VPA/HU, such tumor cells increase expression of the pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family protein BIM, independent of wild-type p53 signaling and in the absence of increased expression of the p53 targets PUMA and BAX. The pro-apoptotic activity of BIM in HNSCCs was found critical for tumor cell death; ectopic overexpression of BIM induced HNSCC apoptosis and RNAi-mediated depletion of BIM protected HNSCC cells from VPA/HU. Also, significantly elevated BIM levels (p<0.01) were detectable in the apoptotic tumor centers versus proliferating tumor margins in HNSCC patients (n=31), underlining BIM's clinical relevance. Importantly, VPA/HU treatment additionally reduces expression and cell surface localization of EGFR. Accordingly, in a xenograft mouse model, VPA/HU efficiently blocked tumor growth (P<0.001) correlating with BIM induction and EGFR downregulation. We provide a molecular rationale for the potent anti-cancer activities of this drug combination. Our data suggest its exploitation as a potential strategy for the treatment of HNSCC and other tumor entities characterized by therapy resistance linked to dysregulated EGFR activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roland H Stauber
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology/Mainz Screening Center, University Hospital of Mainz, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
NSP 5a3a is a novel structural protein found to be over-expressed in certain cancer cell lines in-vitro such as Hela, Saos-2, and MCF-7 while barely detectable levels in normal body tissues except for Testis. This particular isoform has been known to interact with cyto- nuclear proteins B23, known to be involved in multi-faceted cellular processes such as cell division, apoptosis, ribosome biogenesis, and rRNA processing, as well as with hnRNP-L, known to be involved with RNA metabolism and rRNA processing. A previous preliminary investigation of NSP 5a3a as a potential target in Head and Neck Carcinoma revealed a novel p73 dependent mechanism through which NSP 5a3a induced apoptosis in Head and Neck cell lines when over-expressed in-vitro. Our present investigation further elucidated a novel dual axis signaling point by which NSP 5a3a induces apoptosis in Head and Neck cell line HN30 through p73-DAXX and TRAF2-TRADD. Interestingly, this novel mechanism appears independent of canonical caspases involved in the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway as well as those in the death receptor pathway thru TRAF2 and TRADD.
Collapse
|
8
|
Muppani N, Nyman U, Joseph B. TAp73alpha protects small cell lung carcinoma cells from caspase-2 induced mitochondrial mediated apoptotic cell death. Oncotarget 2012; 2:1145-54. [PMID: 22201672 PMCID: PMC3282073 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Caspase-2 is ubiquitously expressed and the most evolutionarily conserved mammalian caspase. It can be activated by a range of death stimuli prior to Bax activation and the occurrence of apoptotic mitochondrial dysfunctions. Caspase-2 has also been reported to exert tumour suppressor function in vivo. The full length TAp73alpha isoform is found up-regulated in various tumour types, and is reported in a cell-type specific manner to repress drug-induced apoptosis. Here, we report that TAp73alpha represses caspase-2 enzymatic activity and by this means reduce caspase-2 induced Bax activation, loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and resulting apoptosis. The inhibitory effect on caspase-2 requires the presence of the DNA binding domain and SAM domain region of TAp73alpha. In conclusion, the ability of TAp73alpha to act as an inhibitor of caspase-2-induced cell death together with its up-regulation in certain tumour types strengthen the potential oncogenic activities for this protein.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Muppani
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Cancer Centrum Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
In recent years, numerous new targets have been identified and new experimental therapeutics have been developed. Importantly, existing non-cancer drugs found novel use in cancer therapy. And even more importantly, new original therapeutic strategies to increase potency, selectivity and decrease detrimental side effects have been evaluated. Here we review some recent advances in targeting cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoya N Demidenko
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Huang Y, Guerrero-Preston R, Ratovitski EA. Phospho-ΔNp63α-dependent regulation of autophagic signaling through transcription and micro-RNA modulation. Cell Cycle 2012; 11:1247-59. [PMID: 22356768 DOI: 10.4161/cc.11.6.19670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cisplatin was shown to induce the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent phosphorylation of tumor protein p63 isoform, (ΔNp63α), leading to a transcriptional regulation of specific genes implicated in the control of cell death of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells. We previously observed that the cisplatin-induced phosphorylated (p)-ΔNp63α transcriptionally regulates the expression of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) in SCC cells. We found here that cisplatin exposure of SCC cells led to modulation of the members of the autophagic pathway, such as Atg1/Ulk1, Atg3, Atg4A, Atg5, Atg6/Becn1, Atg7, Atg9A and Atg10, by a direct p-ΔNp63α-dependent transcriptional regulation. We further found that specific miRNAs (miR-181a, miR-519a, miR-374a and miR-630), which are critical downstream targets of the p-ΔNp63α, modulated the protein levels of ATG5, ATG6/BECN1, ATG10, ATG12, ATG16L1 and UVRAG, adding another level of expression control for autophagic pathways in SCC cells upon cisplatin exposure. Our data support the notion that the cisplatin-induced p-ΔNp63α could regulate key pathways implicated in response of cancer cells to chemotherapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiping Huang
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Hoellein A, Pickhard A, von Keitz F, Schoeffmann S, Piontek G, Rudelius M, Baumgart A, Wagenpfeil S, Peschel C, Dechow T, Bier H, Keller U. Aurora kinase inhibition overcomes cetuximab resistance in squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. Oncotarget 2012; 2:599-609. [PMID: 21865609 PMCID: PMC3248211 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN) is the sixth leading cause for cancer deaths worldwide. Despite extense knowledge of risk factors and pathogenesis about 50 percent of all patients and essentially every patient with metastatic SCCHN eventually die from this disease. We analyzed the clinical data and performed immunohistochemistry for Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Aurora kinase A (Aurora-A) expression in 180 SCCHN patients. Patients characterized by elevated EGFR and elevated Aurora-A protein expression in tumor tissue represent a risk group with poor disease-free and overall survival (EGFR(low)Aurora-A(low) versus EGFR(high)Aurora-A(high), p = 0.024). Treating SCCHN cell lines with a pan-Aurora kinase inhibitor resulted in defective cytokinesis, polyploidy and apoptosis, which was effective irrespective of the EGFR status. Combined Aurora kinase and EGFR targeting using a monoclonal anti-EGFR antibody was more effective compared to single EGFR and Aurora kinase inhibition. Comparing pan-Aurora kinase and Aurora-A targeting hints towards a strong and clinically relevant biological effect mediated via Aurora kinase B. Taken together, our findings characterize a new poor risk group in SCCHN patients defined by elevated EGFR and Aurora-A protein expression. Our results demonstrate that combined targeting of EGFR and Aurora kinases represents a therapeutic means to activate cell cycle checkpoints and apoptosis in SCCHN.
Collapse
|