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MacDonald N, Raven N, Diep W, Evans S, Pannipitiya S, Bramwell G, Vanbeek C, Thomas F, Russell T, Dujon AM, Telonis-Scott M, Ujvari B. The molecular evolution of cancer associated genes in mammals. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11650. [PMID: 38773187 PMCID: PMC11109183 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62425-0] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a disease that many multicellular organisms have faced for millions of years, and species have evolved various tumour suppression mechanisms to control oncogenesis. Although cancer occurs across the tree of life, cancer related mortality risks vary across mammalian orders, with Carnivorans particularly affected. Evolutionary theory predicts different selection pressures on genes associated with cancer progression and suppression, including oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes and immune genes. Therefore, we investigated the evolutionary history of cancer associated gene sequences across 384 mammalian taxa, to detect signatures of selection across categories of oncogenes (GRB2, FGL2 and CDC42), tumour suppressors (LITAF, Casp8 and BRCA2) and immune genes (IL2, CD274 and B2M). This approach allowed us to conduct a fine scale analysis of gene wide and site-specific signatures of selection across mammalian lineages under the lens of cancer susceptibility. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that for most species the evolution of cancer associated genes follows the species' evolution. The gene wide selection analyses revealed oncogenes being the most conserved, tumour suppressor and immune genes having similar amounts of episodic diversifying selection. Despite BRCA2's status as a key caretaker gene, episodic diversifying selection was detected across mammals. The site-specific selection analyses revealed that the two apoptosis associated domains of the Casp8 gene of bats (Chiroptera) are under opposing forces of selection (positive and negative respectively), highlighting the importance of site-specific selection analyses to understand the evolution of highly complex gene families. Our results highlighted the need to critically assess different types of selection pressure on cancer associated genes when investigating evolutionary adaptations to cancer across the tree of life. This study provides an extensive assessment of cancer associated genes in mammals with highly representative, and substantially large sample size for a comparative genomic analysis in the field and identifies various avenues for future research into the mechanisms of cancer resistance and susceptibility in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick MacDonald
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Nynke Raven
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Wendy Diep
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Samantha Evans
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Senuri Pannipitiya
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Georgina Bramwell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Caitlin Vanbeek
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Tracey Russell
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Antoine M Dujon
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
| | - Marina Telonis-Scott
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia
| | - Beata Ujvari
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Waurn Ponds, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia.
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Slyp B, Darby JM, Flies AS. Conversion of Mouse-Derived Hybridomas to Tasmanian Devil Recombinant IgG Antibodies. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2826:231-249. [PMID: 39017897 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3950-4_17] [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: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
The hybridoma method for production of monoclonal antibodies has been a cornerstone of biomedical research for several decades. Here we convert the monoclonal antibody sequence from mouse-derived hybridomas into a "devilized" recombinant antibody with devil IgG heavy chain and IgK light chain. The chimeric recombinant antibody can be used in functional assays, immunotherapy, and to improve understanding of antibodies and Fc receptors in Tasmanian devils. The process can be readily modified for other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey Slyp
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Jocelyn M Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
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Russell GG, Palmieri C, Darby J, Morris GP, Fountain-Jones NM, Pye RJ, Flies AS. Automated Analysis of PD1 and PDL1 Expression in Lymph Nodes and the Microenvironment of Transmissible Tumors in Tasmanian Devils. Immunol Invest 2023:1-20. [PMID: 37267050 DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2023.2217845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The wild Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population has suffered a devastating decline due to two clonal transmissible cancers. The first devil facial tumor 1 (DFT1) was observed in 1996, followed by a second genetically distinct transmissible tumor, the devil facial tumor 2 (DFT2), in 2014. DFT1/2 frequently metastasize, with lymph nodes being common metastatic sites. MHC-I downregulation by DFT1 cells is a primary means of evading allograft immunity aimed at polymorphic MHC-I proteins. DFT2 cells constitutively express MHC-I, and MHC-I is upregulated on DFT1/2 cells by interferon gamma, suggesting other immune evasion mechanisms may contribute to overcoming allograft and anti-tumor immunity. Human clinical trials have demonstrated PD1/PDL1 blockade effectively treats patients showing increased expression of PD1 in tumor draining lymph nodes, and PDL1 on peritumoral immune cells and tumor cells. The effects of DFT1/2 on systemic immunity remain largely uncharacterized. This study applied the open-access software QuPath to develop a semiautomated pipeline for whole slide analysis of stained tissue sections to quantify PD1/PDL1 expression in devil lymph nodes. The QuPath protocol provided strong correlations to manual counting. PD-1 expression was approximately 10-fold higher than PD-L1 expression in lymph nodes and was primarily expressed in germinal centers, whereas PD-L1 expression was more widely distributed throughout the lymph nodes. The density of PD1 positive cells was increased in lymph nodes containing DFT2 metastases, compared to DFT1. This suggests PD1/PDL1 exploitation may contribute to the poorly immunogenic nature of transmissible tumors in some devils and could be targeted in therapeutic or prophylactic treatments.Abbreviations: PD1: programmed cell death protein 1; PDL1: programmed death ligand 1; DFT1: devil facial tumor 1; DFT2: devil facial tumor 2; DFTD: devil facial tumor disease; MCC: Matthew's correlation coefficient; DAB: diaminobenzidine; ROI: region of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace G Russell
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Chiara Palmieri
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jocelyn Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Gary P Morris
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Nicholas M Fountain-Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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Kayigwe AN, M. Darby J, Lyons AB, L. Patchett A, Lisowski L, Liu GS, S. Flies A. A human adenovirus encoding IFN-γ can transduce Tasmanian devil facial tumour cells and upregulate MHC-I. J Gen Virol 2022; 103. [DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) has led to a massive decline in the wild Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population. The disease is caused by two independent devil facial tumours (DFT1 and DFT2). These transmissible cancers have a mortality rate of nearly 100 %. An adenoviral vector-based vaccine has been proposed as a conservation strategy for the Tasmanian devil. This study aimed to determine if a human adenovirus serotype 5 could express functional transgenes in devil cells. As DFT1 cells do not constitutively express major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), we developed a replication-deficient adenoviral vector that encodes devil interferon gamma (IFN-γ) fused to a fluorescent protein reporter. Our results show that adenoviral-expressed IFN-γ was able to stimulate upregulation of beta-2 microglobulin, a component of MHC-I, on DFT1, DFT2 and devil fibroblast cell lines. This work suggests that human adenoviruses can serve as a vaccine platform for devils and potentially other marsupials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahab N. Kayigwe
- Department of Science and Laboratory Technology, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, Bibititi and Morogoro Rd Junction, P. O. Box 2958, Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Jocelyn M. Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - A. Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Amanda L. Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Military Institute of Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Guei-Sheung Liu
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
| | - Andrew S. Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
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Ong CEB, Cheng Y, Siddle HV, Lyons AB, Woods GM, Flies AS. Class II transactivator induces expression of MHC-I and MHC-II in transmissible Tasmanian devil facial tumours. Open Biol 2022; 12:220208. [PMID: 36259237 PMCID: PMC9579919 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220208] [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] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
MHC-I and MHC-II molecules are critical components of antigen presentation and T cell immunity to pathogens and cancer. The two monoclonal transmissible devil facial tumours (DFT1, DFT2) exploit MHC-I pathways to overcome immunological anti-tumour and allogeneic barriers. This exploitation underpins the ongoing transmission of DFT cells across the wild Tasmanian devil population. We have previously shown that the overexpression of NLRC5 in DFT1 and DFT2 cells can regulate components of the MHC-I pathway but not MHC-II, establishing the stable upregulation of MHC-I on the cell surface. As MHC-II molecules are crucial for CD4+ T cell activation, MHC-II expression in tumour cells is beginning to gain traction in the field of immunotherapy and cancer vaccines. The overexpression of Class II transactivator in transfected DFT1 and DFT2 cells induced the transcription of several genes of the MHC-I and MHC-II pathways. This was further supported by the upregulation of MHC-I protein on DFT1 and DFT2 cells, but interestingly MHC-II protein was upregulated only in DFT1 cells. This new insight into the regulation of MHC-I and MHC-II pathways in cells that naturally overcome allogeneic barriers can inform vaccine, immunotherapy and tissue transplant strategies for human and veterinary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrissie E. B. Ong
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Hannah V. Siddle
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - A. Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7005, Australia
| | - Gregory M. Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Andrew S. Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
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Ren J, Li N, Pei S, Lian Y, Li L, Peng Y, Liu Q, Guo J, Wang X, Han Y, Zhang G, Wang H, Li Y, Jiang J, Li Q, Tan M, Peng J, Hu G, Xiao Y, Li X, Lin M, Qin J. Histone methyltransferase WHSC1 loss dampens MHC-I antigen presentation pathway to impair IFN-γ-stimulated anti-tumor immunity. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:153167. [PMID: 35230972 PMCID: PMC9012282 DOI: 10.1172/jci153167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
IFN-γ–stimulated MHC class I (MHC-I) antigen presentation underlies the core of antitumor immunity. However, sustained IFN-γ signaling also enhances the programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) checkpoint pathway to dampen antitumor immunity. It remains unclear how these opposing effects of IFN-γ are regulated. Here, we report that loss of the histone dimethyltransferase WHSC1 impaired the antitumor effect of IFN-γ signaling by transcriptional downregulation of the MHC-I machinery without affecting PD-L1 expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Whsc1 loss promoted tumorigenesis via a non-cell-autonomous mechanism in an Apcmin/+ mouse model, CRC organoids, and xenografts. Mechanistically, we found that the IFN-γ/STAT1 signaling axis stimulated WHSC1 expression and, in turn, that WHSC1 directly interacted with NLRC5 to promote MHC-I gene expression, but not that of PD-L1. Concordantly, silencing Whsc1 diminished MHC-I levels, impaired antitumor immunity, and blunted the effect of immune checkpoint blockade. Patient cohort analysis revealed that WHSC1 expression positively correlated with enhanced MHC-I expression, tumor-infiltrating T cells, and favorable disease outcomes. Together, our findings establish a tumor-suppressive function of WHSC1 that relays IFN-γ signaling to promote antigen presentation on CRC cells and provide a rationale for boosting WHSC1 activity in immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiale Ren
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) & Chinese Academy, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Ni Li
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) & Chinese Academy, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyu Pei
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) & Chinese Academy, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Yannan Lian
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) & Chinese Academy, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of General Surgery, Department of Gastroenterology, Yangpu Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuchong Peng
- Center for Clinical Precision Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Clinical Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiuli Liu
- Department of Urology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiacheng Guo
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) & Chinese Academy, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuege Wang
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) & Chinese Academy, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Han
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) & Chinese Academy, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoying Zhang
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) & Chinese Academy, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanling Wang
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) & Chinese Academy, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaqi Li
- Department of Oncology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Jiang
- Department of Urology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qintong Li
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Minjia Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Junjie Peng
- Department of Oncology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guohong Hu
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) & Chinese Academy, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Yichuan Xiao
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) & Chinese Academy, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiong Li
- Center for Clinical Precision Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Clinical Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Moubin Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Department of Gastroenterology, Yangpu Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Qin
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM) & Chinese Academy, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai, China
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Silva RCMC, Panis C, Pires BRB. Lessons from transmissible cancers for immunotherapy and transplant. Immunol Med 2021; 45:146-161. [PMID: 34962854 DOI: 10.1080/25785826.2021.2018783] [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: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of horizontal transmission of cancer between vertebrates is an issue that interests scientists and medical society. Transmission requires: (i) a mechanism by which cancer cells can transfer to another organism and (ii) a repressed immune response on the part of the recipient. Transmissible tumors are unique models to comprehend the responses and mechanisms mediated by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which can be transposed for transplant biology. Here, we discuss the mechanisms involved in immune-mediated tissue rejection, making a parallel with transmissible cancers. We also discuss cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in cancer immunotherapy and anti-rejection therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Cardoso Maciel Costa Silva
- Laboratory of Immunoreceptors and Signaling, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina Panis
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, State University of West Paraná, UNIOESTE, Francisco Beltrão, Brazil
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Owen RS, Ramarathinam SH, Bailey A, Gastaldello A, Hussey K, Skipp PJ, Purcell AW, Siddle HV. The differentiation state of the Schwann cell progenitor drives phenotypic variation between two contagious cancers. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010033. [PMID: 34780568 PMCID: PMC8629380 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Contagious cancers are a rare pathogenic phenomenon in which cancer cells gain the ability to spread between genetically distinct hosts. Nine examples have been identified across marine bivalves, dogs and Tasmanian devils, but the Tasmanian devil is the only mammalian species known to have given rise to two distinct lineages of contagious cancer, termed Devil Facial Tumour 1 (DFT1) and 2 (DFT2). Remarkably, DFT1 and DFT2 arose independently from the same cell type, a Schwann cell, and while their ultra-structural features are highly similar they exhibit variation in their mutational signatures and infection dynamics. As such, DFT1 and DFT2 provide a unique framework for investigating how a common progenitor cell can give rise to distinct contagious cancers. Using a proteomics approach, we show that DFT1 and DFT2 are derived from Schwann cells in different differentiation states, with DFT2 carrying a molecular signature of a less well differentiated Schwann cell. Under inflammatory signals DFT1 and DFT2 have different gene expression profiles, most notably involving Schwann cell markers of differentiation, reflecting the influence of their distinct origins. Further, DFT2 cells express immune cell markers typically expressed during nerve repair, consistent with an ability to manipulate their extracellular environment, facilitating the cell’s ability to transmit between individuals. The emergence of two contagious cancers in the Tasmanian devil suggests that the inherent plasticity of Schwann cells confers a vulnerability to the formation of contagious cancers. Cancer can be an infectious pathogen, with nine known cases, infecting bivalves, dogs and two independent tumours circulating in the endangered Tasmanian devil. These cancers, known as Devil Facial Tumour 1 (DFT1) and Devil Facial Tumour 2 (DFT2), spread through the wild population much like parasites, moving between genetically distinct hosts during social biting behaviours and persisting in the population. As DFT1 and DFT2 are independent contagious cancers that arose from the same cell type, a Schwann cell, they provide a unique model system for studying the emergence of phenotypic variation in cancers derived from a single progenitor cell. In this study, we have shown that these two remarkably similar tumours have emerged from Schwann cells in different differentiation states. The differentiation state of the progenitor has altered the characteristics of each tumour, resulting in different responses to external signals. This work demonstrates that the cellular origin of infection can direct the phenotype of a contagious cancer and how it responds to signals from the host environment. Further, the plasticity of Schwann cells may make these cells more prone to forming contagious cancers, raising the possibility that further parasitic cancers could emerge from this cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S. Owen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sri H. Ramarathinam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Alistair Bailey
- Centre for Cancer Immunology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Annalisa Gastaldello
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn Hussey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Paul J. Skipp
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony W. Purcell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Hannah V. Siddle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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9
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Spatial variation in gene expression of Tasmanian devil facial tumors despite minimal host transcriptomic response to infection. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:698. [PMID: 34579650 PMCID: PMC8477496 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07994-4] [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: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transmissible cancers lie at the intersection of oncology and infectious disease, two traditionally divergent fields for which gene expression studies are particularly useful for identifying the molecular basis of phenotypic variation. In oncology, transcriptomics studies, which characterize the expression of thousands of genes, have identified processes leading to heterogeneity in cancer phenotypes and individual prognoses. More generally, transcriptomics studies of infectious diseases characterize interactions between host, pathogen, and environment to better predict population-level outcomes. Tasmanian devils have been impacted dramatically by a transmissible cancer (devil facial tumor disease; DFTD) that has led to widespread population declines. Despite initial predictions of extinction, populations have persisted at low levels, due in part to heterogeneity in host responses, particularly between sexes. However, the processes underlying this variation remain unknown. RESULTS We sequenced transcriptomes from healthy and DFTD-infected devils, as well as DFTD tumors, to characterize host responses to DFTD infection, identify differing host-tumor molecular interactions between sexes, and investigate the extent to which tumor gene expression varies among host populations. We found minimal variation in gene expression of devil lip tissues, either with respect to DFTD infection status or sex. However, 4088 genes were differentially expressed in tumors among our sampling localities. Pathways that were up- or downregulated in DFTD tumors relative to normal tissues exhibited the same patterns of expression with greater intensity in tumors from localities that experienced DFTD for longer. No mRNA sequence variants were associated with expression variation. CONCLUSIONS Expression variation among localities may reflect morphological differences in tumors that alter ratios of normal-to-tumor cells within biopsies. Phenotypic variation in tumors may arise from environmental variation or differences in host immune response that were undetectable in lip biopsies, potentially reflecting variation in host-tumor coevolutionary relationships among sites that differ in the time since DFTD arrival.
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Ong CEB, Patchett AL, Darby JM, Chen J, Liu GS, Lyons AB, Woods GM, Flies AS. NLRC5 regulates expression of MHC-I and provides a target for anti-tumor immunity in transmissible cancers. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2021; 147:1973-1991. [PMID: 33797607 PMCID: PMC8017436 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-021-03601-x] [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: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Downregulation of MHC class I (MHC-I) is a common immune evasion strategy of many cancers. Similarly, two allogeneic clonal transmissible cancers have killed thousands of wild Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) and also modulate MHC-I expression to evade anti-cancer and allograft responses. IFNG treatment restores MHC-I expression on devil facial tumor (DFT) cells but is insufficient to control tumor growth. Transcriptional co-activator NLRC5 is a master regulator of MHC-I in humans and mice but its role in transmissible cancers remains unknown. In this study, we explored the regulation and role of MHC-I in these unique genetically mis-matched tumors. Methods We used transcriptome and flow cytometric analyses to determine how MHC-I shapes allogeneic and anti-tumor responses. Cell lines that overexpress NLRC5 to drive antigen presentation, and B2M-knockout cell lines incapable of presenting antigen on MHC-I were used to probe the role of MHC-I in rare cases of tumor regressions. Results Transcriptomic results suggest that NLRC5 plays a major role in MHC-I regulation in devils. NLRC5 was shown to drive the expression of many components of the antigen presentation pathway but did not upregulate PDL1. Serum from devils with tumor regressions showed strong binding to IFNG-treated and NLRC5 cell lines; antibody binding to IFNG-treated and NRLC5 transgenic tumor cells was diminished or absent following B2M knockout. Conclusion MHC-I could be identified as a target for anti-tumor and allogeneic immunity. Consequently, NLRC5 could be a promising target for immunotherapy and vaccines to protect devils from transmissible cancers and inform development of transplant and cancer therapies for humans. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00432-021-03601-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrissie E B Ong
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Jocelyn M Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Jinying Chen
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia.,Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guei-Sheung Liu
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia.
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11
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Patchett AL, Tovar C, Blackburn NB, Woods GM, Lyons AB. Mesenchymal plasticity of devil facial tumour cells during in vivo vaccine and immunotherapy trials. Immunol Cell Biol 2021; 99:711-723. [PMID: 33667023 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Immune evasion is critical to the growth and survival of cancer cells. This is especially pertinent to transmissible cancers, which evade immune detection across genetically diverse hosts. The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is threatened by the emergence of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), comprising two transmissible cancers (DFT1 and DFT2). The development of effective prophylactic vaccines and therapies against DFTD has been restricted by an incomplete understanding of how allogeneic DFT1 and DFT2 cells maintain immune evasion upon activation of tumour-specific immune responses. In this study, we used RNA sequencing to examine tumours from three experimental DFT1 cases. Two devils received a vaccine prior to inoculation with live DFT1 cells, providing an opportunity to explore changes to DFT1 cancers under immune pressure. Analysis of DFT1 in the non-immunised devil revealed a 'myelinating Schwann cell' phenotype, reflecting both natural DFT1 cancers and the DFT1 cell line used for the experimental challenge. Comparatively, immunised devils exhibited a 'dedifferentiated mesenchymal' DFT1 phenotype. A third 'immune-enriched' phenotype, characterised by increased PDL1 and CTLA-4 expression, was detected in a DFT1 tumour that arose after immunotherapy. In response to immune pressure, mesenchymal plasticity and upregulation of immune checkpoint molecules are used by human cancers to evade immune responses. Similar mechanisms are associated with immune evasion by DFTD cancers, providing novel insights that will inform modification of DFTD vaccines. As DFT1 and DFT2 are clonal cancers transmitted across genetically distinct hosts, the Tasmanian devil provides a 'natural' disease model for more broadly exploring these immune evasion mechanisms in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Cesar Tovar
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Nicholas B Blackburn
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
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12
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Ikonomopoulou MP, Lopez-Mancheño Y, Novelle MG, Martinez-Uña M, Gangoda L, Pal M, Costa-Machado LF, Fernandez-Marcos PJ, Ramm GA, Fernandez-Rojo MA. LXR stimulates a metabolic switch and reveals cholesterol homeostasis as a statin target in Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108851. [PMID: 33730574 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) and its lack of available therapies are propelling the Tasmanian devil population toward extinction. This study demonstrates that cholesterol homeostasis and carbohydrate energy metabolism sustain the proliferation of DFTD cells in a cell-type-dependent manner. In addition, we show that the liver-X nuclear receptor-β (LXRβ), a major cholesterol cellular sensor, and its natural ligand 24S-hydroxycholesterol promote the proliferation of DFTD cells via a metabolic switch toward aerobic glycolysis. As a proof of concept of the role of cholesterol homeostasis on DFTD proliferation, we show that atorvastatin, an FDA-approved statin-drug subtype used against human cardiovascular diseases that inhibits cholesterol synthesis, shuts down DFTD energy metabolism and prevents tumor growth in an in vivo DFTD-xenograft model. In conclusion, we show that intervention against cholesterol homeostasis and carbohydrate-dependent energy metabolism by atorvastatin constitutes a feasible biochemical treatment against DFTD, which may assist in the conservation of the Tasmanian devil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria P Ikonomopoulou
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Translational Venomics Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain.
| | - Yaiza Lopez-Mancheño
- Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Marta G Novelle
- Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Maite Martinez-Uña
- Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Lahiru Gangoda
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Martin Pal
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Luis Filipe Costa-Machado
- Metabolic Syndrome Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | | | - Grant A Ramm
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Manuel Alejandro Fernandez-Rojo
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain.
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13
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PD-L1 immunohistochemistry for canine cancers and clinical benefit of anti-PD-L1 antibody in dogs with pulmonary metastatic oral malignant melanoma. NPJ Precis Oncol 2021; 5:10. [PMID: 33580183 PMCID: PMC7881100 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-021-00147-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy targeting programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) represents promising treatments for human cancers. Our previous studies demonstrated PD-L1 overexpression in some canine cancers, and suggested the therapeutic potential of a canine chimeric anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (c4G12). However, such evidence is scarce, limiting the clinical application in dogs. In the present report, canine PD-L1 expression was assessed in various cancer types, using a new anti-PD-L1 mAb, 6C11-3A11, and the safety and efficacy of c4G12 were explored in 29 dogs with pulmonary metastatic oral malignant melanoma (OMM). PD-L1 expression was detected in most canine malignant cancers including OMM, and survival was significantly longer in the c4G12 treatment group (median 143 days) when compared to a historical control group (n = 15, median 54 days). In dogs with measurable disease (n = 13), one dog (7.7%) experienced a complete response. Treatment-related adverse events of any grade were observed in 15 dogs (51.7%). Here we show that PD-L1 is a promising target for cancer immunotherapy in dogs, and dogs could be a useful large animal model for human cancer research.
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14
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Wong C, Darby JM, Murphy PR, Pinfold TL, Lennard PR, Woods GM, Lyons AB, Flies AS. Tasmanian devil CD28 and CTLA4 capture CD80 and CD86 from adjacent cells. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 115:103882. [PMID: 33039410 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2020.103882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint immunotherapy is a pillar of human oncology treatment with potential for non-human species. The first checkpoint immunotherapy approved for human cancers targeted the CTLA4 protein. CTLA4 can inhibit T cell activation by capturing and internalizing CD80 and CD86 from antigen presenting cells, a process called trans-endocytosis. Similarly, CD28 can capture CD80 and CD86 via trogocytosis and retain the captured ligands on the surface of the CD28-expressing cells. The wild Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population has declined by 77% due to transmissible cancers that evade immune defenses despite genetic mismatches between the host and tumors. We used a live cell-based assay to demonstrate that devil CTLA4 and CD28 can capture CD80 and CD86. Mutation of evolutionarily conserved motifs in CTLA4 altered functional interactions with CD80 and CD86 in accordance with patterns observed in other species. These results suggest that checkpoint immunotherapies can be translated to evolutionarily divergent species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candida Wong
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Jocelyn M Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Peter R Murphy
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia; University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Terry L Pinfold
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Patrick R Lennard
- The Roslin Institute and Royal School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
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15
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Pye R, Darby J, Flies AS, Fox S, Carver S, Elmer J, Swift K, Hogg C, Pemberton D, Woods G, Lyons AB. Post-release immune responses of Tasmanian devils vaccinated with an experimental devil facial tumour disease vaccine. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/wr20210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
ContextDisease is increasingly becoming a driver of wildlife population declines and an extinction risk. Vaccines are one of the most successful health interventions in human history, but few have been tested for mitigating wildlife disease. The transmissible cancer, devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), triggered the Tasmanian devil’s (Sarcophilus harrisii) inclusion on the international endangered species list. In 2016, 33 devils from a DFTD-free insurance population were given an experimental DFTD vaccination before their wild release on the Tasmanian northern coast.
AimTo determine the efficacy of the vaccination protocol and the longevity of the induced responses.
MethodSix trapping trips took place over the 2.5 years following release, and both vaccinated and incumbent devils had blood samples and tumour biopsies collected.
Key resultsIn all, 8 of the 33 vaccinated devils were re-trapped, and six of those developed DFTD within the monitoring period. Despite the lack of protection provided by the vaccine, we observed signs of immune activation not usually found in unvaccinated devils. First, sera collected from the eight devils showed that anti-DFTD antibodies persisted for up to 2 years post-vaccination. Second, tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes were found in three of four biopsies collected from vaccinated devils, which contrasts with the ‘immune deserts’ typical of DFTs; only 1 of the 20 incumbent devils with DFTD had a tumour biopsy exhibiting immune-cell infiltrate. Third, immunohistochemical analysis of the vaccinated devils’ tumour biopsies identified the functional immune molecules associated with antigen-presenting cells (MHC-II) and T-cells (CD3), and the immune checkpoint molecule PD-1, all being associated with anti-tumour immunity in other species.
ConclusionsThese results correlate with our previous study on captive devils in which a prophylactic vaccine primed the devil immune system and, following DFTD challenge and tumour growth, immunotherapy induced complete tumour regressions. The field trial results presented here provide further evidence that the devil immune system can be primed to recognise DFTD cells, but additional immune manipulation could be needed for complete protection or induction of tumour regressions.
ImplicationsA protective DFTD vaccine would provide a valuable management approach for conservation of the Tasmanian devil.
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16
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Ohmer MEB, Costantini D, Czirják GÁ, Downs CJ, Ferguson LV, Flies A, Franklin CE, Kayigwe AN, Knutie S, Richards-Zawacki CL, Cramp RL. Applied ecoimmunology: using immunological tools to improve conservation efforts in a changing world. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab074. [PMID: 34512994 PMCID: PMC8422949 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Ecoimmunology is a rapidly developing field that explores how the environment shapes immune function, which in turn influences host-parasite relationships and disease outcomes. Host immune defence is a key fitness determinant because it underlies the capacity of animals to resist or tolerate potential infections. Importantly, immune function can be suppressed, depressed, reconfigured or stimulated by exposure to rapidly changing environmental drivers like temperature, pollutants and food availability. Thus, hosts may experience trade-offs resulting from altered investment in immune function under environmental stressors. As such, approaches in ecoimmunology can provide powerful tools to assist in the conservation of wildlife. Here, we provide case studies that explore the diverse ways that ecoimmunology can inform and advance conservation efforts, from understanding how Galapagos finches will fare with introduced parasites, to using methods from human oncology to design vaccines against a transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils. In addition, we discuss the future of ecoimmunology and present 10 questions that can help guide this emerging field to better inform conservation decisions and biodiversity protection. From better linking changes in immune function to disease outcomes under different environmental conditions, to understanding how individual variation contributes to disease dynamics in wild populations, there is immense potential for ecoimmunology to inform the conservation of imperilled hosts in the face of new and re-emerging pathogens, in addition to improving the detection and management of emerging potential zoonoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel E B Ohmer
- Living Earth Collaborative, Washington University in St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - David Costantini
- Unité Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation (PhyMA), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, 57 Rue Cuvier, CP32, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Gábor Á Czirják
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Cynthia J Downs
- Department of Environmental Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Laura V Ferguson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Andy Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Craig E Franklin
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Ahab N Kayigwe
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Sarah Knutie
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, USA
| | | | - Rebecca L Cramp
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Corresponding author: School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, Australia.
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17
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Patchett AL, Flies AS, Lyons AB, Woods GM. Curse of the devil: molecular insights into the emergence of transmissible cancers in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:2507-2525. [PMID: 31900624 PMCID: PMC11104928 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03435-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the only mammalian species known to be affected by multiple transmissible cancers. Devil facial tumours 1 and 2 (DFT1 and DFT2) are independent neoplastic cell lineages that produce large, disfiguring cancers known as devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). The long-term persistence of wild Tasmanian devils is threatened due to the ability of DFTD cells to propagate as contagious allografts and the high mortality rate of DFTD. Recent studies have demonstrated that both DFT1 and DFT2 cancers originated from founder cells of the Schwann cell lineage, an uncommon origin of malignant cancer in humans. This unprecedented finding has revealed a potential predisposition of Tasmanian devils to transmissible cancers of the Schwann cell lineage. In this review, we compare the molecular nature of human Schwann cells and nerve sheath tumours with DFT1 and DFT2 to gain insights into the emergence of transmissible cancers in the Tasmanian devil. We discuss a potential mechanism, whereby Schwann cell plasticity and frequent wounding in Tasmanian devils combine with an inherent cancer predisposition and low genetic diversity to give rise to transmissible Schwann cell cancers in devils on rare occasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
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18
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Flies AS, Darby JM, Lennard PR, Murphy PR, Ong CEB, Pinfold TL, De Luca A, Lyons AB, Woods GM, Patchett AL. A novel system to map protein interactions reveals evolutionarily conserved immune evasion pathways on transmissible cancers. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/27/eaba5031. [PMID: 32937435 PMCID: PMC7458443 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba5031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Around 40% of humans and Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) develop cancer in their lifetime, compared to less than 10% for most species. In addition, devils are affected by two of the three known transmissible cancers in mammals. Immune checkpoint immunotherapy has transformed human medicine, but a lack of species-specific reagents has limited checkpoint immunology in most species. We developed a cut-and-paste reagent development system and used the fluorescent fusion protein system to show that immune checkpoint interactions are conserved across 160,000,000 years of evolution, CD200 is highly expressed on transmissible tumor cells, and coexpression of CD200R1 can block CD200 surface expression. The system's versatility across species was demonstrated by fusing a fluorescent reporter to a camelid-derived nanobody that binds human programmed death ligand 1. The evolutionarily conserved pathways suggest that naturally occurring cancers in devils and other species can be used to advance our understanding of cancer and immunological tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia.
| | - Jocelyn M Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Patrick R Lennard
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
- The Roslin Institute and Royal School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Peter R Murphy
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Chrissie E B Ong
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Terry L Pinfold
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Alana De Luca
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
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19
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Dustin ML, Zenclussen AC. A checkpoint cliffhanger at the dawn of placental mammals. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:4381-4382. [PMID: 32245902 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.h120.013307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The PD-1 ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2 are commonly expressed on the surface of cells, where they regulate immune system activation. However, the specific role played by each ligand has been unclear. Using site-directed mutagenesis, surface plasmon resonance, and crystallography, Philips et al. explore the distinct features of PD-L2 and identify a specific evolutionary event linked to its appearance. This work provides a deeper understanding of how the immune system adapted to mammalian placental gestation and could be an important consideration in the development of new immune checkpoint therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Dustin
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, United Kingdom
| | - Ana C Zenclussen
- Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
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20
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Gregory Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia.
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21
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Flies AS, Flies EJ, Fox S, Gilbert A, Johnson SR, Liu GS, Lyons AB, Patchett AL, Pemberton D, Pye RJ. An oral bait vaccination approach for the Tasmanian devil facial tumor diseases. Expert Rev Vaccines 2020; 19:1-10. [PMID: 31971036 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2020.1711058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the largest extant carnivorous marsupial. Since 1996, its population has declined by 77% primarily due to a clonal transmissible tumor, known as devil facial tumor (DFT1) disease. In 2014, a second transmissible devil facial tumor (DFT2) was discovered. DFT1 and DFT2 are nearly 100% fatal.Areas covered: We review DFT control approaches and propose a rabies-style oral bait vaccine (OBV) platform for DFTs. This approach has an extensive safety record and was a primary tool in large-scale rabies virus elimination from wild carnivores across diverse landscapes. Like rabies virus, DFTs are transmitted by oral contact, so immunizing the oral cavity and stimulating resident memory cells could be advantageous. Additionally, exposing infected devils that already have tumors to OBVs could serve as an oncolytic virus immunotherapy. The primary challenges may be identifying appropriate DFT-specific antigens and optimization of field delivery methods.Expert opinion: DFT2 is currently found on a peninsula in southern Tasmania, so an OBV that could eliminate DFT2 should be the priority for this vaccine approach. Translation of an OBV approach to control DFTs will be challenging, but the approach is feasible for combatting ongoing and future disease threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Emily J Flies
- School of Natural Sciences, College of Sciences and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Australia
| | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, DPIPWE, Hobart, Australia.,Toledo Zoo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Amy Gilbert
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Shylo R Johnson
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Guei-Sheung Liu
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | | | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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22
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Programmed Death Ligand 1 Indicates Pre-Existing Adaptive Immune Response by Tumor-Infiltrating CD8 + T Cells in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20205138. [PMID: 31627272 PMCID: PMC6829548 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20205138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells impedes antitumor immunity and instigates immune evasion. The remarkable efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade has been confirmed in various solid tumors. However, the correlation between PD-L1 expression and host immunological landscape remains of considerable controversy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the present study, PD-L1 expression and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) infiltration levels were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in tumor sections of 138 NSCLC patients. The expression level of PD-L1 was positively correlated with the abundance of CD8 + TILs (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, no constitutive expression of PD-L1 was observed in the majority of six NSCLC cell lines detected by Western blot; but exposure to interferon-γ (IFN-γ), a primary cytokine secreted by activated CD8+ T cells, prominently increased PD-L1 expression. Notably, a significantly positive association was determined within PD-L1, CD8 and IFN-γ gene expression by qRT-PCR, which was corroborated by RNA-sequencing from TCGA lung cancer dataset. These findings demonstrate that PD-L1 expression indicates an adaptive immune resistance mechanism adopted by tumor cells in the aversion of immunogenic destruction by CD8+ TILs. Both higher expression of PD-L1 and infiltration of CD8+ TILs were correlated with superior prognosis (p = 0.044 for PD-L1; p = 0.002 for CD8). Moreover, Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that the combination of PD-L1 and CD8 were independent prognostic factors, which was more accurate in prediction of prognosis in NSCLC than individually. Finally, we found that IFN-γ induced the upregulation of PD-L1 in NSCLC cells, mainly through the JAK/STAT1 signaling pathway. In conclusion, PD-L1 expression is mainly induced by activated CD8+ TILs via IFN-γ in the immune milieu and indicates pre-existing adaptive immune response in NSCLC.
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23
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Burr ML, Sparbier CE, Chan KL, Chan YC, Kersbergen A, Lam EYN, Azidis-Yates E, Vassiliadis D, Bell CC, Gilan O, Jackson S, Tan L, Wong SQ, Hollizeck S, Michalak EM, Siddle HV, McCabe MT, Prinjha RK, Guerra GR, Solomon BJ, Sandhu S, Dawson SJ, Beavis PA, Tothill RW, Cullinane C, Lehner PJ, Sutherland KD, Dawson MA. An Evolutionarily Conserved Function of Polycomb Silences the MHC Class I Antigen Presentation Pathway and Enables Immune Evasion in Cancer. Cancer Cell 2019; 36:385-401.e8. [PMID: 31564637 PMCID: PMC6876280 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2019.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 339] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Loss of MHC class I (MHC-I) antigen presentation in cancer cells can elicit immunotherapy resistance. A genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen identified an evolutionarily conserved function of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) that mediates coordinated transcriptional silencing of the MHC-I antigen processing pathway (MHC-I APP), promoting evasion of T cell-mediated immunity. MHC-I APP gene promoters in MHC-I low cancers harbor bivalent activating H3K4me3 and repressive H3K27me3 histone modifications, silencing basal MHC-I expression and restricting cytokine-induced upregulation. Bivalent chromatin at MHC-I APP genes is a normal developmental process active in embryonic stem cells and maintained during neural progenitor differentiation. This physiological MHC-I silencing highlights a conserved mechanism by which cancers arising from these primitive tissues exploit PRC2 activity to enable immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian L Burr
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK.
| | - Christina E Sparbier
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Kah Lok Chan
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Yih-Chih Chan
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Ariena Kersbergen
- ACRF Cancer Biology and Stem Cell Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Enid Y N Lam
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | | | - Dane Vassiliadis
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Charles C Bell
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Omer Gilan
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Susan Jackson
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Lavinia Tan
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Stephen Q Wong
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Sebastian Hollizeck
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Ewa M Michalak
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Hannah V Siddle
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Michael T McCabe
- Epigenetics Research Unit, Oncology R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Rab K Prinjha
- Epigenetics Research Unit, Oncology R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA; Epigenetics Research Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, UK
| | - Glen R Guerra
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Benjamin J Solomon
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Shahneen Sandhu
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Sarah-Jane Dawson
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Centre for Cancer Research, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Paul A Beavis
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Richard W Tothill
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Centre for Cancer Research, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Carleen Cullinane
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Paul J Lehner
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Kate D Sutherland
- ACRF Cancer Biology and Stem Cell Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Mark A Dawson
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Centre for Cancer Research, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
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24
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Abstract
The Tasmanian devil is the only mammalian species to harbour two independent lineages of contagious cancer. Devil facial tumour 1 (DFT1) emerged in the 1990s and has caused significant population declines. Devil facial tumour 2 (DFT2) was identified in 2014, and evidence indicates that this new tumour has emerged independently of DFT1. While DFT1 is widespread across Tasmania, DFT2 is currently found only on the Channel Peninsula in south east Tasmania. Allograft transmission of cancer cells should be prevented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. DFT1 avoids immune detection by downregulating MHC class I expression, which can be reversed by treatment with interferon-gamma (IFNγ), while DFT2 currently circulates in hosts with a similar MHC class I genotype to the tumour. Wild Tasmanian devil numbers have not recovered from the emergence of DFT1, and it is feared that widespread transmission of DFT2 will be devastating to the remaining wild population. A preventative solution for the management of the disease is needed. Here, we review the current research on immune responses to devil facial tumours and vaccine strategies against DFT1 and outline our plans moving forward to develop a specific, effective vaccine to support the wild Tasmanian devil population against the threat of these two transmissible tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S Owen
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton , Southampton , UK
| | - Hannah V Siddle
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton , Southampton , UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton , Southampton , UK
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25
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Woods GM, Fox S, Flies AS, Tovar CD, Jones M, Hamede R, Pemberton D, Lyons AB, Bettiol SS. Two Decades of the Impact of Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 58:1043-1054. [PMID: 30252058 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil, a marsupial carnivore, has been restricted to the island state of Tasmania since its extinction on the Australian mainland about 3000 years ago. In the past two decades, this species has experienced severe population decline due to the emergence of devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), a transmissible cancer. During these 20 years, scientists have puzzled over the immunological and evolutionary responses by the Tasmanian devil to this transmissible cancer. Targeted strategies in population management and disease control have been developed as well as comparative processes to identify variation in tumor and host genetics. A multi-disciplinary approach with multi-institutional teams has produced considerable advances over the last decade. This has led to a greater understanding of the molecular pathogenesis and genomic classification of this cancer. New and promising developments in the Tasmanian devil's story include evidence that most immunized, and some wild devils, can produce an immune response to DFTD. Furthermore, epidemiology combined with genomic studies suggest a rapid evolution to the disease and that DFTD will become an endemic disease. Since 1998 there have been more than 350 publications, distributed over 37 Web of Science categories. A unique endemic island species has become an international curiosity that is in the spotlight of integrative and comparative biology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, DPIPWE, GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.,Toledo Zoo, 2605 Broadway, Toledo, OH 43609, USA
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Cesar D Tovar
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia.,School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - David Pemberton
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, DPIPWE, GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Silvana S Bettiol
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
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26
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Tamukai K, Sugiyama J, Nagata Y, Tsutomu O, Katayama Y, Mizutani T, Kimura M, Une Y. Epidemic nodular facial myxomatous dermatitis in juvenile Cranwell's horned frogs Ceratophrys cranwelli. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2019; 134:57-64. [PMID: 31020948 DOI: 10.3354/dao03358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In 2017, approximately 40 out of 100 captive Cranwell's horned frogs Ceratophrys cranwelli from several facilities in Japan exhibited protruding facial lesions. Histopathological examination was performed on 6 specimens with such lesions randomly selected from 2 facilities. Lesions consisted of scattered stellate to spindle-shaped cells without atypia in an abundant myxoid matrix and occasional lymphocytic infiltrates. Maxillary bone was resorbed. No etiological organisms were detected using light microscopy or metagenomic analysis of the lesions. Macroscopic and histological assessments indicate that the lesions are associated with nodular facial myxomatous dermatitis, which has never been reported in amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Tamukai
- Den-en-chofu Animal Hospital, 2-1-3 Denenchofu, Ota-ku, Tokyo 145-0071, Japan
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27
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Ong CEB, Lyons AB, Woods GM, Flies AS. Inducible IFN-γ Expression for MHC-I Upregulation in Devil Facial Tumor Cells. Front Immunol 2019; 9:3117. [PMID: 30692995 PMCID: PMC6340284 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.03117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil facial tumor (DFT) disease has led to an 80% reduction in the wild Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population since 1996. The limited genetic diversity of wild devils and the lack of MHC-I expression on DFT cells have been implicated in the lack of immunity against the original DFT clonal cell line (DFT1). Recently, a second transmissible tumor of independent origin (DFT2) was discovered. Surprisingly, DFT2 cells do express MHC-I, but DFT2 cells appear to be on a trajectory for reduced MHC-I expression in vivo. Thus, much of the ongoing vaccine-development efforts and conservation plans have focused on MHC-I. A major limitation in conservation efforts is the lack of species-specific tools to understand Tasmanian devil gene function and immunology. To help fill this gap, we developed an all-in-one Tet-Off vector system to regulate expression of IFN-γ in DFT cells (DFT1.Tet/IFN-γ). IFN-γ can have negative effects on cell proliferation and viability; thus, doxycycline was used to suppress IFN-γ production whilst DFT1.Tet/IFN-γ cells were expanded in cell culture. Induction of IFN-γ following removal of doxycycline led to upregulation of MHC-I but also the inhibitory checkpoint molecule PD-L1. Additionally, DFT1.Tet/IFN-γ cells were capable of stimulating MHC-I upregulation on bystander wild type DFT cells in co-culture assays in vitro. This system represents a major step forward in DFT disease immunotherapy and vaccine development efforts, and ability to understand gene function in devils. Importantly, the techniques are readily transferable for testing gene function in DFT2 cells and other non-traditional species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrissie E B Ong
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Alan Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
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28
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Yu J, Lin Y, Xiong X, Li K, Yao Z, Dong H, Jiang Z, Yu D, Yeung SCJ, Zhang H. Detection of Exosomal PD-L1 RNA in Saliva of Patients With Periodontitis. Front Genet 2019; 10:202. [PMID: 30923536 PMCID: PMC6426748 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Periodontitis is the most prevalent inflammatory disease of the periodontium, and is related to oral and systemic health. Exosomes are emerging as non-invasive biomarker for liquid biopsy. We here evaluated the levels of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) mRNA in salivary exosomes from patients with periodontitis and non-periodontitis controls. The purposes of this study were to establish a procedure for isolation and detection of mRNA in exosomes from saliva of periodontitis patients, to characterize the level of salivary exosomal PD-L1, and to illustrate its clinical relevance. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that periodontitis was associated with an inflammation gene expression signature, that PD-L1 expression positively correlated with inflammation in periodontitis based on gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and that PD-L1 expression was remarkably elevated in periodontitis patients versus control subjects. Exosomal RNAs were successfully isolated from saliva of 61 patients and 30 controls and were subjected to qRT-PCR. Levels of PD-L1 mRNA in salivary exosomes were higher in periodontitis patients than controls (P < 0.01). Salivary exosomal PD-L1 mRNA showed significant difference between the stages of periodontitis. In summary, the protocols for isolating and detecting exosomal RNA from saliva of periodontitis patients were, for the first time, characterized. The current study suggests that assay of exosomes-based PD-L1 mRNA in saliva has potential to distinguish periodontitis from the healthy, and the levels correlate with the severity/stage of periodontitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialiang Yu
- Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Yusheng Lin
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xiao Xiong
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Kai Li
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Zhimeng Yao
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Hongmei Dong
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Institute of Precision Cancer and Pathology, Jinan University Medical College, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zuojie Jiang
- Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Dan Yu
- Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Sai-Ching Jim Yeung
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Hao Zhang
- Institute of Precision Cancer and Pathology, Jinan University Medical College, Guangzhou, China
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- *Correspondence: Hao Zhang,
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29
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Lessons learnt from the Tasmanian devil facial tumour regarding immune function in cancer. Mamm Genome 2018; 29:731-738. [PMID: 30225648 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-018-9782-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Genetic and genomic technologies have facilitated a greater understanding of the Tasmanian devil immune system and the origins, evolution and spread of devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). DFTD is a contagious cancer that has caused significant declines in devil populations across Tasmania. Immune responses to DFTD are rarely detected, allowing the cancer to pass between individuals and proliferate unimpeded. Early immunosenscence in devils appears to decrease anti-tumour immunity in older animals compared to younger animals, which may increase susceptibility to DFTD and explain high DFTD prevalence in this age group. Devils also have extremely low major histocompatibility complex (MHC) diversity, and multiple alleles are shared with the tumour, lowering histocompatibility barriers which may have contributed to DFTD evolution. DFTD actively evades immune attack by down-regulating cell-surface MHC I molecules, making it effectively invisible to the immune system. Altered MHC I profiles should activate natural killer (NK) cell anti-tumour responses, but these are absent in DFTD infection. Recent immunisation and immunotherapy using modified DFTD cells has induced an anti-DFTD immune response and regression of DFTD in some devils. Knowledge gained from immune responses to a transmissible cancer in devils will ultimately reveal useful insights into immunity to cancer in humans and other species.
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30
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Tovar C, Patchett AL, Kim V, Wilson R, Darby J, Lyons AB, Woods GM. Heat shock proteins expressed in the marsupial Tasmanian devil are potential antigenic candidates in a vaccine against devil facial tumour disease. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196469. [PMID: 29702669 PMCID: PMC5922574 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), the largest extant carnivorous marsupial and endemic to Tasmania, is at the verge of extinction due to the emergence of a transmissible cancer known as devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). DFTD has spread over the distribution range of the species and has been responsible for a severe decline in the global devil population. To protect the Tasmanian devil from extinction in the wild, our group has focused on the development of a prophylactic vaccine. Although this work has shown that vaccine preparations using whole DFTD tumour cells supplemented with adjuvants can induce anti-DFTD immune responses, alternative strategies that induce stronger and more specific immune responses are required. In humans, heat shock proteins (HSPs) derived from tumour cells have been used instead of whole-tumour cell preparations as a source of antigens for cancer immunotherapy. As HSPs have not been studied in the Tasmanian devil, this study presents the first characterisation of HSPs in this marsupial and evaluates the suitability of these proteins as antigenic components for the enhancement of a DFTD vaccine. We show that tissues and cancer cells from the Tasmanian devil express constitutive and inducible HSP. Additionally, this study suggests that HSP derived from DFTD cancer cells are immunogenic supporting the future development of a HSP-based vaccine against DFTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Tovar
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Amanda L. Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Vitna Kim
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Jocelyn Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - A. Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Gregory M. Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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31
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Fernandez-Rojo MA, Deplazes E, Pineda SS, Brust A, Marth T, Wilhelm P, Martel N, Ramm GA, Mancera RL, Alewood PF, Woods GM, Belov K, Miles JJ, King GF, Ikonomopoulou MP. Gomesin peptides prevent proliferation and lead to the cell death of devil facial tumour disease cells. Cell Death Discov 2018. [PMID: 29531816 PMCID: PMC5841354 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-018-0030-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil faces extinction due to devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), a highly transmittable clonal form of cancer without available treatment. In this study, we report the cell-autonomous antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities exhibited by the spider peptide gomesin (AgGom) and gomesin-like homologue (HiGom) in DFTD cells. Mechanistically, both peptides caused a significant reduction at G0/G1 phase, in correlation with an augmented expression of the cell cycle inhibitory proteins p53, p27, p21, necrosis, exacerbated generation of reactive oxygen species and diminished mitochondrial membrane potential, all hallmarks of cellular stress. The screening of a novel panel of AgGom-analogues revealed that, unlike changes in the hydrophobicity and electrostatic surface, the cytotoxic potential of the gomesin analogues in DFTD cells lies on specific arginine substitutions in the eight and nine positions and alanine replacement in three, five and 12 positions. In conclusion, the evidence supports gomesin as a potential antiproliferative compound against DFTD disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel A Fernandez-Rojo
- 1QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006 Australia.,2Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006 Australia.,3Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) in Food, CEI UAM+CSIC, Madrid, 28049 Spain
| | - Evelyne Deplazes
- 4School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute and Curtin Institute for Computation, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845 Australia
| | - Sandy S Pineda
- 5Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Andreas Brust
- 5Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Tano Marth
- 5Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Patrick Wilhelm
- 5Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Nick Martel
- 5Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Grant A Ramm
- 1QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006 Australia.,2Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006 Australia
| | - Ricardo L Mancera
- 4School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute and Curtin Institute for Computation, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845 Australia
| | - Paul F Alewood
- 5Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- 6Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000 Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- 7School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia
| | - John J Miles
- 1QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006 Australia.,2Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006 Australia.,8Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, 4870 Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- 5Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Maria P Ikonomopoulou
- 1QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006 Australia.,2Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006 Australia.,3Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) in Food, CEI UAM+CSIC, Madrid, 28049 Spain
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32
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Flies AS, Blackburn NB, Lyons AB, Hayball JD, Woods GM. Comparative Analysis of Immune Checkpoint Molecules and Their Potential Role in the Transmissible Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease. Front Immunol 2017; 8:513. [PMID: 28515726 PMCID: PMC5413580 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint molecules function as a system of checks and balances that enhance or inhibit immune responses to infectious agents, foreign tissues, and cancerous cells. Immunotherapies that target immune checkpoint molecules, particularly the inhibitory molecules programmed cell death 1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), have revolutionized human oncology in recent years, yet little is known about these key immune signaling molecules in species other than primates and rodents. The Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease is caused by transmissible cancers that have resulted in a massive decline in the wild Tasmanian devil population. We have recently demonstrated that the inhibitory checkpoint molecule PD-L1 is upregulated on Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) facial tumor cells in response to the interferon-gamma cytokine. As this could play a role in immune evasion by tumor cells, we performed a thorough comparative analysis of checkpoint molecule protein sequences among Tasmanian devils and eight other species. We report that many of the key signaling motifs and ligand-binding sites in the checkpoint molecules are highly conserved across the estimated 162 million years of evolution since the last common ancestor of placental and non-placental mammals. Specifically, we discovered that the CTLA-4 (MYPPPY) ligand-binding motif and the CTLA-4 (GVYVKM) inhibitory domain are completely conserved across all nine species used in our comparative analysis, suggesting that the function of CTLA-4 is likely conserved in these species. We also found that cysteine residues for intra- and intermolecular disulfide bonds were also highly conserved. For instance, all 20 cysteine residues involved in disulfide bonds in the human 4-1BB molecule were also present in devil 4-1BB. Although many key sequences were conserved, we have also identified immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs) and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based switch motifs (ITSMs) in genes and protein domains that have not been previously reported in any species. This checkpoint molecule analysis and review of salient features for each of the molecules presented here can serve as road map for the development of a Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease immunotherapy. Finally, the strategies can be used as a guide for veterinarians, ecologists, and other researchers willing to venture into the nascent field of wild immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S. Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Department of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Nicholas B. Blackburn
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- School of Medicine, South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA
| | - Alan Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - John D. Hayball
- Department of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Gregory M. Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
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33
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Tovar C, Pye RJ, Kreiss A, Cheng Y, Brown GK, Darby J, Malley RC, Siddle HVT, Skjødt K, Kaufman J, Silva A, Baz Morelli A, Papenfuss AT, Corcoran LM, Murphy JM, Pearse MJ, Belov K, Lyons AB, Woods GM. Regression of devil facial tumour disease following immunotherapy in immunised Tasmanian devils. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43827. [PMID: 28276463 PMCID: PMC5343465 DOI: 10.1038/srep43827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) is a transmissible cancer devastating the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population. The cancer cell is the ‘infectious’ agent transmitted as an allograft by biting. Animals usually die within a few months with no evidence of antibody or immune cell responses against the DFTD allograft. This lack of anti-tumour immunity is attributed to an absence of cell surface major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I molecule expression. While the endangerment of the devil population precludes experimentation on large experimental groups, those examined in our study indicated that immunisation and immunotherapy with DFTD cells expressing surface MHC-I corresponded with effective anti-tumour responses. Tumour engraftment did not occur in one of the five immunised Tasmanian devils, and regression followed therapy of experimentally induced DFTD tumours in three Tasmanian devils. Regression correlated with immune cell infiltration and antibody responses against DFTD cells. These data support the concept that immunisation of devils with DFTD cancer cells can successfully induce humoral responses against DFTD and trigger immune-mediated regression of established tumours. Our findings support the feasibility of a protective DFTD vaccine and ultimately the preservation of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Tovar
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Alexandre Kreiss
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Gabriella K Brown
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia.,Department of Health and Human Services, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Jocelyn Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Roslyn C Malley
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia.,Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Hannah V T Siddle
- Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
| | - Karsten Skjødt
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | - Jim Kaufman
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, United Kingdom
| | - Anabel Silva
- CSL Ltd., Bio21 Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | | | - Anthony T Papenfuss
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Lynn M Corcoran
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - James M Murphy
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Martin J Pearse
- CSL Ltd., Bio21 Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
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