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Morsli S, Henriques CM, Ellis PS, Mortiboys H, Baxendale S, Loynes CA, Renshaw SA, Bellantuono I. A p21-GFP zebrafish model of senescence for rapid testing of senolytics in vivo. Aging Cell 2023; 22:e13835. [PMID: 37039087 PMCID: PMC10265157 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13835] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Senescence drives the onset and severity of multiple ageing-associated diseases and frailty. As a result, there has been an increased interest in mechanistic studies and in the search for compounds targeting senescent cells, known as senolytics. Mammalian models are commonly used to test senolytics and generate functional and toxicity data at the level of organs and systems, yet this is expensive and time consuming. Zebrafish share high homology in genes associated with human ageing and disease. They can be genetically modified relatively easily. In larvae, most organs develop within 5 days of fertilisation and are transparent, which allows tracking of fluorescent cells in vivo in real time, testing drug off-target toxicity and assessment of cellular and phenotypic changes. Here, we have generated a transgenic zebrafish line that expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the promoter of a key senescence marker, p21. We show an increase in p21:GFP+ cells in larvae following exposure to ionising radiation and with natural ageing. p21:GFP+ cells display other markers of senescence, including senescence-associated β-galactosidase and IL6. The observed increase in senescent cells following irradiation is associated with a reduction in the thickness of muscle fibres and mobility, two important ageing phenotypes. We also show that quercetin and dasatinib, two senolytics currently in clinical trials, reduce the number of p21:GFP+ cells, in a rapid 5-day assay. This model provides an important tool to study senescence in a living organism, allowing the rapid selection of senolytics before moving to more expensive and time-consuming mammalian systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Morsli
- The Bateson CentreUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2THUK
- Healthy Lifespan InstituteUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2THUK
- Department of Oncology and MetabolismUniversity of SheffieldBeech Hill RoadSheffieldS10 2RXUK
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceUniversity of Sheffield385a Glossop RoadSheffieldS10 2HQUK
- Present address:
Early Cancer InstituteUniversity of CambridgeHutchison BuildingCambridgeCB2 0XZUK
| | - Catarina M. Henriques
- The Bateson CentreUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2THUK
- Healthy Lifespan InstituteUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2THUK
- Department of Oncology and MetabolismUniversity of SheffieldBeech Hill RoadSheffieldS10 2RXUK
| | - Pamela S. Ellis
- The Bateson CentreUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2THUK
- Department of Oncology and MetabolismUniversity of SheffieldBeech Hill RoadSheffieldS10 2RXUK
| | - Heather Mortiboys
- Healthy Lifespan InstituteUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2THUK
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceUniversity of Sheffield385a Glossop RoadSheffieldS10 2HQUK
| | - Sarah Baxendale
- The Bateson CentreUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2THUK
- Healthy Lifespan InstituteUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2THUK
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldS10 2THUK
| | - Catherine A. Loynes
- The Bateson CentreUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2THUK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular DiseaseUniversity of SheffieldBeech Hill RoadSheffieldS10 2RXUK
| | - Stephen A. Renshaw
- The Bateson CentreUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2THUK
- Healthy Lifespan InstituteUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2THUK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular DiseaseUniversity of SheffieldBeech Hill RoadSheffieldS10 2RXUK
| | - Ilaria Bellantuono
- Healthy Lifespan InstituteUniversity of SheffieldWestern BankSheffieldS10 2THUK
- Department of Oncology and MetabolismUniversity of SheffieldBeech Hill RoadSheffieldS10 2RXUK
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2
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Zebrafish Models of Paediatric Brain Tumours. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179920. [PMID: 36077320 PMCID: PMC9456103 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Paediatric brain cancer is the second most common childhood cancer and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. Despite significant advancements in the treatment modalities and improvements in the 5-year survival rate, it leaves long-term therapy-associated side effects in paediatric patients. Addressing these impairments demands further understanding of the molecularity and heterogeneity of these brain tumours, which can be demonstrated using different animal models of paediatric brain cancer. Here we review the use of zebrafish as potential in vivo models for paediatric brain tumour modelling, as well as catalogue the currently available zebrafish models used to study paediatric brain cancer pathophysiology, and discuss key findings, the unique attributes that these models add, current challenges and therapeutic significance.
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3
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Cascallar M, Alijas S, Pensado-López A, Vázquez-Ríos AJ, Sánchez L, Piñeiro R, de la Fuente M. What Zebrafish and Nanotechnology Can Offer for Cancer Treatments in the Age of Personalized Medicine. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092238. [PMID: 35565373 PMCID: PMC9099873 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer causes millions of deaths each year and thus urgently requires the development of new therapeutic strategies. Nanotechnology-based anticancer therapies are a promising approach, with several formulations already approved and in clinical use. The evaluation of these therapies requires efficient in vivo models to study their behavior and interaction with cancer cells, and to optimize their properties to ensure maximum efficacy and safety. In this way, zebrafish is an important candidate due to its high homology with the human genoma, its large offspring, and the ease in developing specific cancer models. The role of zebrafish as a model for anticancer therapy studies has been highly evidenced, allowing researchers not only to perform drug screenings but also to evaluate novel therapies such as immunotherapies and nanotherapies. Beyond that, zebrafish can be used as an “avatar” model for performing patient-derived xenografts for personalized medicine. These characteristics place zebrafish in an attractive position as a role model for evaluating novel therapies for cancer treatment, such as nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Cascallar
- Nano-Oncology and Translational Therapeutics Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), SERGAS, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (M.C.); (S.A.); (A.J.V.-R.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus de Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (L.S.)
| | - Sandra Alijas
- Nano-Oncology and Translational Therapeutics Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), SERGAS, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (M.C.); (S.A.); (A.J.V.-R.)
| | - Alba Pensado-López
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus de Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (L.S.)
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine & Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Campus Vida, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Abi Judit Vázquez-Ríos
- Nano-Oncology and Translational Therapeutics Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), SERGAS, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (M.C.); (S.A.); (A.J.V.-R.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- DIVERSA Technologies S.L., 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Laura Sánchez
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus de Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (L.S.)
- Preclinical Animal Models Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Roberto Piñeiro
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Roche-Chus Joint Unit, Translational Medical Oncology Group, Oncomet, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela, Travesía da Choupana s/n, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - María de la Fuente
- Nano-Oncology and Translational Therapeutics Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), SERGAS, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (M.C.); (S.A.); (A.J.V.-R.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- DIVERSA Technologies S.L., 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-981-955-704
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4
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Lee B, Shin H, Oh JE, Park J, Park M, Yang SC, Jun JH, Hong SH, Song H, Lim HJ. An autophagic deficit in the uterine vessel microenvironment provokes hyperpermeability through deregulated VEGFA, NOS1, and CTNNB1. Autophagy 2021; 17:1649-1666. [PMID: 32579471 PMCID: PMC8354601 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2020.1778292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The uterus undergoes vascular changes during the reproductive cycle and pregnancy. Steroid hormone deprivation induces macroautophagy/autophagy in major uterine cell types. Herein, we explored the functions of uterine autophagy using the Amhr2-Cre-driven atg7 deletion model. Deletion of Atg7 was confirmed by functional deficit of autophagy in uterine stromal, myometrial, and vascular smooth muscle cells, but not in endothelial cells. atg7d/d uteri exhibited enhanced stromal edema accompanied by dilation of blood vessels. Ovariectomized atg7d/d uteri showed decreased expression of endothelial junction-related proteins, such as CTNNB1/beta-catenin, with increased vascular permeability, and increased expression of VEGFA and NOS1. Nitric oxide (NO) was shown to mediate VEGFA-induced vascular permeability by targeting CTNNB1. NO involvement in maintaining endothelial junctional stability in atg7d/d uteri was confirmed by the reduction in extravasation following treatment with a NOS inhibitor. We also showed that atg7d/d uterine phenotype improved the fetal weight:placental weight ratio, which is one of the indicators of assessing the status of preeclampsia. We showed that autophagic deficit in the uterine vessel microenvironment provokes hyperpermeability through the deregulation of VEGFA, NOS1, and CTNNB1.Abbreviations: ACTA2: actin, alpha 2, smooth muscle, aortic; Amhr2: anti-Mullerian hormone type 2 receptor; ANGPT1: angiopoietin 1; ATG: autophagy-related; CDH5: cadherin 5; CLDN5: claudin 5; COL1A1: collagen, type I, alpha 1; CSPG4/NG2: chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4; CTNNB1: catenin (cadherin associated protein), beta 1; DES: desmin; EDN1: endothelin 1; EDNRB: endothelin receptor type B; F3: coagulation factor III; KDR/FLK1/VEGFR2: kinase insert domain protein receptor; LYVE1: lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1; MAP1LC3B: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; MCAM/CD146: melanoma cell adhesion molecule; MYL2: myosin, light polypeptide 2, regulatory, cardiac, slow; MYLK: myosin, light polypeptide kinase; NOS1/nNOS: nitric oxide synthase 1, neuronal; NOS2/iNOS: nitric oxide synthase 2, inducible; NOS3/eNOS: nitric oxide synthase 3, endothelial cell; OVX: ovariectomy; PECAM1/CD31: platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1; POSTN: periostin, osteoblast specific factor; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; TEK/Tie2: TEK receptor tyrosine kinase; TJP1/ZO-1: tight junction protein 1; TUBB1, tubulin, beta 1 class VI; USC: uterine stromal cell; VEGFA: vascular endothelial growth factor A; VSMC: vascular smooth muscle cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bora Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science & Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyejin Shin
- Department of Biomedical Science & Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ji-Eun Oh
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jaekyoung Park
- Department of Biomedical Science & Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mira Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Seung Chel Yang
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Jin-Hyun Jun
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Eulji University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
- Department of Senior Healthcare, BK21 Plus Program, Eulji Medi-Bio Research Institute, Graduate School, Eulji University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Seok-Ho Hong
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Kangwon-do, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Haengseok Song
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
| | - Hyunjung Jade Lim
- Department of Biomedical Science & Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea
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5
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Shahzad U, Taccone MS, Kumar SA, Okura H, Krumholtz S, Ishida J, Mine C, Gouveia K, Edgar J, Smith C, Hayes M, Huang X, Derry WB, Taylor MD, Rutka JT. Modeling human brain tumors in flies, worms, and zebrafish: From proof of principle to novel therapeutic targets. Neuro Oncol 2021; 23:718-731. [PMID: 33378446 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa306] [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] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, cell biologists and cancer researchers have taken advantage of non-murine species to increase our understanding of the molecular processes that drive normal cell and tissue development, and when perturbed, cause cancer. The advent of whole-genome sequencing has revealed the high genetic homology of these organisms to humans. Seminal studies in non-murine organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Danio rerio identified many of the signaling pathways involved in cancer. Studies in these organisms offer distinct advantages over mammalian cell or murine systems. Compared to murine models, these three species have shorter lifespans, are less resource intense, and are amenable to high-throughput drug and RNA interference screening to test a myriad of promising drugs against novel targets. In this review, we introduce species-specific breeding strategies, highlight the advantages of modeling brain tumors in each non-mammalian species, and underscore the successes attributed to scientific investigation using these models. We conclude with an optimistic proposal that discoveries in the fields of cancer research, and in particular neuro-oncology, may be expedited using these powerful screening tools and strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uswa Shahzad
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael S Taccone
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sachin A Kumar
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hidehiro Okura
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stacey Krumholtz
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Joji Ishida
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Coco Mine
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kyle Gouveia
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Julia Edgar
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Christian Smith
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Madeline Hayes
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Xi Huang
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - W Brent Derry
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - James T Rutka
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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6
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Raby L, Völkel P, Le Bourhis X, Angrand PO. Genetic Engineering of Zebrafish in Cancer Research. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12082168. [PMID: 32759814 PMCID: PMC7464884 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an excellent model to study a wide diversity of human cancers. In this review, we provide an overview of the genetic and reverse genetic toolbox allowing the generation of zebrafish lines that develop tumors. The large spectrum of genetic tools enables the engineering of zebrafish lines harboring precise genetic alterations found in human patients, the generation of zebrafish carrying somatic or germline inheritable mutations or zebrafish showing conditional expression of the oncogenic mutations. Comparative transcriptomics demonstrate that many of the zebrafish tumors share molecular signatures similar to those found in human cancers. Thus, zebrafish cancer models provide a unique in vivo platform to investigate cancer initiation and progression at the molecular and cellular levels, to identify novel genes involved in tumorigenesis as well as to contemplate new therapeutic strategies.
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7
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Naert T, Dimitrakopoulou D, Tulkens D, Demuynck S, Carron M, Noelanders R, Eeckhout L, Van Isterdael G, Deforce D, Vanhove C, Van Dorpe J, Creytens D, Vleminckx K. RBL1 (p107) functions as tumor suppressor in glioblastoma and small-cell pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma in Xenopus tropicalis. Oncogene 2020; 39:2692-2706. [PMID: 32001819 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1173-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Alterations of the retinoblastoma and/or the p53 signaling network are associated with specific cancers such as high-grade astrocytoma/glioblastoma, small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), choroid plexus tumors, and small-cell pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (SC-PaNEC). However, the intricate functional redundancy between RB1 and the related pocket proteins RBL1/p107 and RBL2/p130 in suppressing tumorigenesis remains poorly understood. Here we performed lineage-restricted parallel inactivation of rb1 and rbl1 by multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in the true diploid Xenopus tropicalis to gain insight into this in vivo redundancy. We show that while rb1 inactivation is sufficient to induce choroid plexus papilloma, combined rb1 and rbl1 inactivation is required and sufficient to drive SC-PaNEC, retinoblastoma and astrocytoma. Further, using a novel Li-Fraumeni syndrome-mimicking tp53 mutant X. tropicalis line, we demonstrate increased malignancy of rb1/rbl1-mutant glioma towards glioblastoma upon concomitant inactivation of tp53. Interestingly, although clinical SC-PaNEC samples are characterized by abnormal p53 expression or localization, in the current experimental models, the tp53 status had little effect on the establishment and growth of SC-PaNEC, but may rather be essential for maintaining chromosomal stability. SCLC was only rarely observed in our experimental setup, indicating requirement of additional or alternative oncogenic insults. In conclusion, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to delineate the tumor suppressor properties of Rbl1, generating new insights in the functional redundancy within the retinoblastoma protein family in suppressing neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer and glioma/glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Naert
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dionysia Dimitrakopoulou
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dieter Tulkens
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Suzan Demuynck
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marjolein Carron
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rivka Noelanders
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Liza Eeckhout
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Dieter Deforce
- Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christian Vanhove
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- Infinity lab, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jo Van Dorpe
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - David Creytens
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Pathology, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kris Vleminckx
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
- Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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8
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Hason M, Bartůněk P. Zebrafish Models of Cancer-New Insights on Modeling Human Cancer in a Non-Mammalian Vertebrate. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10110935. [PMID: 31731811 PMCID: PMC6896156 DOI: 10.3390/genes10110935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a valuable non-mammalian vertebrate model widely used to study development and disease, including more recently cancer. The evolutionary conservation of cancer-related programs between human and zebrafish is striking and allows extrapolation of research outcomes obtained in fish back to humans. Zebrafish has gained attention as a robust model for cancer research mainly because of its high fecundity, cost-effective maintenance, dynamic visualization of tumor growth in vivo, and the possibility of chemical screening in large numbers of animals at reasonable costs. Novel approaches in modeling tumor growth, such as using transgene electroporation in adult zebrafish, could improve our knowledge about the spatial and temporal control of cancer formation and progression in vivo. Looking at genetic as well as epigenetic alterations could be important to explain the pathogenesis of a disease as complex as cancer. In this review, we highlight classic genetic and transplantation models of cancer in zebrafish as well as provide new insights on advances in cancer modeling. Recent progress in zebrafish xenotransplantation studies and drug screening has shown that zebrafish is a reliable model to study human cancer and could be suitable for evaluating patient-derived xenograft cell invasiveness. Rapid, large-scale evaluation of in vivo drug responses and kinetics in zebrafish could undoubtedly lead to new applications in personalized medicine and combination therapy. For all of the above-mentioned reasons, zebrafish is approaching a future of being a pre-clinical cancer model, alongside the mouse. However, the mouse will continue to be valuable in the last steps of pre-clinical drug screening, mostly because of the highly conserved mammalian genome and biological processes.
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9
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Somatic Mutations of lats2 Cause Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in Zebrafish. Cells 2019; 8:cells8090972. [PMID: 31450674 PMCID: PMC6770745 DOI: 10.3390/cells8090972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The cellular signaling pathways underlying peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) formation are poorly understood. Hippo signaling has been recently implicated in the biology of various cancers, and is thought to function downstream of mutations in the known PNST driver, NF2. Utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, we targeted the canonical Hippo signaling kinase Lats2. We show that, while germline deletion leads to early lethality, targeted somatic mutations of zebrafish lats2 leads to peripheral nerve sheath tumor formation. These peripheral nerve sheath tumors exhibit high levels of Hippo effectors Yap and Taz, suggesting that dysregulation of these transcriptional co-factors drives PNST formation in this model. These data indicate that somatic lats2 deletion in zebrafish can serve as a powerful experimental platform to probe the mechanisms of PNST formation and progression.
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10
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Czarkwiani A, Yun MH. Out with the old, in with the new: senescence in development. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2018; 55:74-80. [PMID: 30007129 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2018.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a ubiquitous stress response that restricts the proliferative capacity of cells. During ageing, senescent cells accumulate in various tissues leading to a number of age-related pathologies and physiological decline. Previously thought to be a process restricted to adult organisms, cellular senescence has been recently demonstrated to occur during embryonic development of animals ranging from fish to mammals. Together, these studies suggest that developmentally programmed senescence is a transient but intrinsic biological process that contributes to the remodelling of developing structures by promoting immune-mediated cell clearance of particular cell populations or modifying the tissue microenvironment. These observations have important implications for the evolutionary origins of this essential, yet paradoxical mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Czarkwiani
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Technische Universität Dresden (CRTD), Cluster of Excellence, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maximina H Yun
- DFG-Center for Regenerative Therapies Technische Universität Dresden (CRTD), Cluster of Excellence, Dresden, Germany; Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
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11
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Schultz LE, Haltom JA, Almeida MP, Wierson WA, Solin SL, Weiss TJ, Helmer JA, Sandquist EJ, Shive HR, McGrail M. Epigenetic regulators Rbbp4 and Hdac1 are overexpressed in a zebrafish model of RB1 embryonal brain tumor, and are required for neural progenitor survival and proliferation. Dis Model Mech 2018; 11:11/6/dmm034124. [PMID: 29914980 PMCID: PMC6031359 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.034124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we used comparative genomics and developmental genetics to identify epigenetic regulators driving oncogenesis in a zebrafish retinoblastoma 1 (rb1) somatic-targeting model of RB1 mutant embryonal brain tumors. Zebrafish rb1 brain tumors caused by TALEN or CRISPR targeting are histologically similar to human central nervous system primitive neuroectodermal tumors (CNS-PNETs). Like the human oligoneural OLIG2+/SOX10+ CNS-PNET subtype, zebrafish rb1 tumors show elevated expression of neural progenitor transcription factors olig2, sox10, sox8b and the receptor tyrosine kinase erbb3a oncogene. Comparison of rb1 tumor and rb1/rb1 germline mutant larval transcriptomes shows that the altered oligoneural precursor signature is specific to tumor tissue. More than 170 chromatin regulators were differentially expressed in rb1 tumors, including overexpression of chromatin remodeler components histone deacetylase 1 (hdac1) and retinoblastoma binding protein 4 (rbbp4). Germline mutant analysis confirms that zebrafish rb1, rbbp4 and hdac1 are required during brain development. rb1 is necessary for neural precursor cell cycle exit and terminal differentiation, rbbp4 is required for survival of postmitotic precursors, and hdac1 maintains proliferation of the neural stem cell/progenitor pool. We present an in vivo assay using somatic CRISPR targeting plus live imaging of histone-H2A.F/Z-GFP fusion protein in developing larval brain to rapidly test the role of chromatin remodelers in neural stem and progenitor cells. Our somatic assay recapitulates germline mutant phenotypes and reveals a dynamic view of their roles in neural cell populations. Our study provides new insight into the epigenetic processes that might drive pathogenesis in RB1 brain tumors, and identifies Rbbp4 and its associated chromatin remodeling complexes as potential target pathways to induce apoptosis in RB1 mutant brain cancer cells. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: This study shows that chromatin remodelers that are overexpressed in a zebrafish model of RB1 mutant brain cancer are required for neural progenitor proliferation and survival, providing insight into potential mechanisms that drive tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Schultz
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Haltom
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Maira P Almeida
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Wesley A Wierson
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Staci L Solin
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Trevor J Weiss
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Jordan A Helmer
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Sandquist
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Heather R Shive
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Maura McGrail
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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