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Kipcak A, Sezan S, Karpat O, Kaya E, Baylan S, Sariyar E, Yandim C, Karagonlar ZF. Suppression of CTC1 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and enhances RHPS4 cytotoxicity. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:799. [PMID: 39001931 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09756-3] [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: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although DNA repair mechanisms function to maintain genomic integrity, in cancer cells these mechanisms may negatively affect treatment efficiency. The strategy of targeting cancer cells via inhibiting DNA damage repair has been successfully used in breast and ovarian cancer using PARP inhibitors. Unfortunately, such strategies have not yet yielded results in liver cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, is a treatment-resistant malignancy. Despite the development of guided therapies, treatment regimens for advanced HCC patients still fall short of the current need and significant problems such as cancer relapse with resistance still exist. In this paper, we targeted telomeric replication protein CTC1, which is responsible for telomere maintenance. METHODS CTC expression was analyzed using tumor and matched-tissue RNA-sequencing data from TCGA and GTEx. In HCC cell lines, q-RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect CTC1 expression. The knock-down of CTC1 was achieved using lentiviral plasmids. The effects of CTC1 silencing on HCC cells were analyzed by flow cytometry, MTT, spheroid and colony formation assays. RESULTS CTC1 is significantly downregulated in HCC tumor samples. However, CTC1 protein levels were higher in sorafenib-resistant cell lines compared to the parental groups. CTC1 inhibition reduced cell proliferation in sorafenib-resistant HCC cell lines and diminished their spheroid and colony forming capacities. Moreover, these cells were more sensitive to single and combined drug treatment with G4 stabilizer RHPS4 and sorafenib. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that targeting CTC1 might be a viable option for combinational therapies designed for sorafenib resistant HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arda Kipcak
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Sila Sezan
- Division of Bioengineering, Graduate School, İzmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Ozum Karpat
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Ezgi Kaya
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Sude Baylan
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Ece Sariyar
- Division of Bioengineering, Graduate School, İzmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Cihangir Yandim
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Firtina Karagonlar
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Izmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey.
- Division of Bioengineering, Graduate School, İzmir University of Economics, Sakarya Cad, İzmir, Turkey.
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Knowles S, Chai W. Conditional Depletion of STN1 in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts. Bio Protoc 2024; 14:e4977. [PMID: 38686350 PMCID: PMC11056013 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4977] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The CTC1-STN1-TEN1 (CST) complex is a single-strand DNA-binding protein complex that plays an important role in genome maintenance in various model eukaryotes. Dysfunction of CST is the underlying cause of the rare genetic disorder known as Coats plus disease. In addition, down regulation of STN1 promotes colorectal cancer development in mice. While prior studies have utilized RNAi to knock down CST components in mammalian cells, this approach is associated with off-target effects. Attempts to employ CRISPR/Cas9-based knockout of CST components in somatic cell lines have been unsuccessful due to CST's indispensable role in DNA replication and cell proliferation. To address these challenges, we outline a novel approach utilizing a Cre-loxP-based conditional knockout in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). This method offers an alternative means to investigate the function and characteristics of the CST complex in mammalian systems, potentially shedding new light on its roles in genome maintenance. Key features • Conditional depletion of mammalian STN1 using mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEFs). • Analysis of oxidative damage sensitivity using STN1-depleted MEFs. • This protocol requires Stn1flox/flox mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Knowles
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
- Center for Genetic Diseases, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Weihang Chai
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
- Center for Genetic Diseases, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA
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Jaiswal RK, Lei KH, Chastain M, Wang Y, Shiva O, Li S, You Z, Chi P, Chai W. CaMKK2 and CHK1 phosphorylate human STN1 in response to replication stress to protect stalled forks from aberrant resection. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7882. [PMID: 38036565 PMCID: PMC10689503 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43685-2] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Keeping replication fork stable is essential for safeguarding genome integrity; hence, its protection is highly regulated. The CTC1-STN1-TEN1 (CST) complex protects stalled forks from aberrant MRE11-mediated nascent strand DNA degradation (NSD). However, the activation mechanism for CST at forks is unknown. Here, we report that STN1 is phosphorylated in its intrinsic disordered region. Loss of STN1 phosphorylation reduces the replication stress-induced STN1 localization to stalled forks, elevates NSD, increases MRE11 access to stalled forks, and decreases RAD51 localization at forks, leading to increased genome instability under perturbed DNA replication condition. STN1 is phosphorylated by both the ATR-CHK1 and the calcium-sensing kinase CaMKK2 in response to hydroxyurea/aphidicolin treatment or elevated cytosolic calcium concentration. Cancer-associated STN1 variants impair STN1 phosphorylation, conferring inability of fork protection. Collectively, our study uncovers that CaMKK2 and ATR-CHK1 target STN1 to enable its fork protective function, and suggests an important role of STN1 phosphorylation in cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishi Kumar Jaiswal
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Kai-Hang Lei
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Megan Chastain
- Office of Research, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Olga Shiva
- Office of Research, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Shan Li
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Zhongsheng You
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Peter Chi
- Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Weihang Chai
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA.
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4
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Hart SFM, Yonemitsu MA, Giersch RM, Garrett FES, Beal BF, Arriagada G, Davis BW, Ostrander EA, Goff SP, Metzger MJ. Centuries of genome instability and evolution in soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria, bivalve transmissible neoplasia. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:1561-1574. [PMID: 37783804 PMCID: PMC10663159 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00643-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Transmissible cancers are infectious parasitic clones that metastasize to new hosts, living past the death of the founder animal in which the cancer initiated. We investigated the evolutionary history of a cancer lineage that has spread though the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) population by assembling a chromosome-scale soft-shell clam reference genome and characterizing somatic mutations in transmissible cancer. We observe high mutation density, widespread copy-number gain, structural rearrangement, loss of heterozygosity, variable telomere lengths, mitochondrial genome expansion and transposable element activity, all indicative of an unstable cancer genome. We also discover a previously unreported mutational signature associated with overexpression of an error-prone polymerase and use this to estimate the lineage to be >200 years old. Our study reveals the ability for an invertebrate cancer lineage to survive for centuries while its genome continues to structurally mutate, likely contributing to the evolution of this lineage as a parasitic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel F M Hart
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Marisa A Yonemitsu
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Brian F Beal
- Division of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Maine at Machias, Machias, ME, USA
- Downeast Institute, Beals, ME, USA
| | - Gloria Arriagada
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Facultad de Medicina y Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Santiago, Chile
| | - Brian W Davis
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Elaine A Ostrander
- Cancer Genetics and Comparative Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stephen P Goff
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Metzger
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Nguyen DD, Kim E, Le NT, Ding X, Jaiswal RK, Kostlan RJ, Nguyen TNT, Shiva O, Le MT, Chai W. Deficiency in mammalian STN1 promotes colon cancer development via inhibiting DNA repair. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd8023. [PMID: 37163605 PMCID: PMC10171824 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add8023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite the high lethality of colorectal cancers (CRCs), only a limited number of genetic risk factors are identified. The mammalian ssDNA-binding protein complex CTC1-STN1-TEN1 protects genome stability, yet its role in tumorigenesis is unknown. Here, we show that attenuated CTC1/STN1 expression is common in CRCs. We generated an inducible STN1 knockout mouse model and found that STN1 deficiency in young adult mice increased CRC incidence, tumor size, and tumor load. CRC tumors exhibited enhanced proliferation, reduced apoptosis, and elevated DNA damage and replication stress. We found that STN1 deficiency down-regulated multiple DNA glycosylases, resulting in defective base excision repair (BER) and accumulation of oxidative damage. Collectively, this study identifies STN1 deficiency as a risk factor for CRC and implicates the previously unknown STN1-BER axis in protecting colon tissues from oxidative damage, therefore providing insights into the CRC tumor-suppressing mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinh Duc Nguyen
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Eugene Kim
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Nhat Thong Le
- School of Biotechnology, International University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Xianzhong Ding
- Department of Pathology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Rishi Kumar Jaiswal
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Raymond Joseph Kostlan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Thi Ngoc Thanh Nguyen
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Olga Shiva
- Office of Research, Washington State University-Spokane, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Minh Thong Le
- School of Biotechnology, International University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Weihang Chai
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
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Zia S, Khan N, Tehreem K, Rehman N, Sami R, Baty RS, Tayeb FJ, Almashjary MN, Alsubhi NH, Alrefaei GI, Shahid R. Transcriptomic Analysis of Conserved Telomere Maintenance Component 1 (CTC1) and Its Association with Leukemia. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11195780. [PMID: 36233645 PMCID: PMC9571731 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11195780] [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: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length (TEL) regulation is important for genome stability and is governed by the coordinated role of shelterin proteins, telomerase (TERT), and CST (CTC1/OBFC1/TEN1) complex. Previous studies have shown the association of telomerase expression with the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, no data are available for CST association with the ALL. The current pilot study was designed to evaluate the CST expression levels in ALL. In total, 350 subjects were recruited, including 250 ALL cases and 100 controls. The subjects were stratified by age and categorized into pediatrics (1–18 years) and adults (19–54 years). TEL and expression patterns of CTC1, OBFC1, and TERT genes were determined by qPCR. The univariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association of gene expression with ALL, and the results were adjusted for age and sex in multivariable analyses. Pediatric and adult cases did not reflect any change in telomere lengths relative to controls. However, expression of CTC1, OBFC1, and TERT genes were induced among ALL cases. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed association of CTC1 with ALL in pediatric [β estimate (standard error (SE)= −0.013 (0.007), p = 0.049, and adults [0.053 (0.023), p = 0.025]. The association of CTC1 remained significant when taken together with OBFC1 and TERT in a multivariable model. Furthermore, CTC1 showed significant association with B-cell ALL [−0.057(0.017), p = 0.002) and T-cell ALL [−0.050 (0.018), p = 0.008] in pediatric group while no such association was noted in adults. Together, our findings demonstrated that telomere modulating genes, particularly CTC1, are strongly associated with ALL. Therefore, CTC1 can potentially be used as a risk biomarker for the identification of ALL in both pediatrics and adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saadiya Zia
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Netasha Khan
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
| | - Komal Tehreem
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
| | - Nazia Rehman
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
| | - Rokayya Sami
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Roua S. Baty
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faris J. Tayeb
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 47713, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majed N. Almashjary
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
- Hematology Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22254, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nouf H. Alsubhi
- Biological Sciences Department, College of Science and Arts, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ghadeer I. Alrefaei
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, P.O. Box 80327, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ramla Shahid
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan
- Correspondence:
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Watkins RR. Using Precision Medicine for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Viral Pneumonia. Adv Ther 2022; 39:3061-3071. [PMID: 35596912 PMCID: PMC9123616 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-022-02180-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn considerable attention to viral pneumonia from clinicians, public health authorities, and the general public. With dozens of viruses able to cause pneumonia in humans, differentiating viral from bacterial pneumonia can be very challenging in clinical practice using traditional diagnostic methods. Precision medicine is a medical model in which decisions, practices, interventions, and therapies are adapted to the individual patient on the basis of their predicted response or risk of disease. Precision medicine approaches hold promise as a way to improve outcomes for patients with viral pneumonia. This review describes the latest advances in the use of precision medicine for diagnosing and treating viral pneumonia in adults and discusses areas where further research is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard R Watkins
- Department of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA.
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