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Danielli SG, Wei Y, Dyer MA, Stewart E, Sheppard H, Wachtel M, Schäfer BW, Patel AG, Langenau DM. Single cell transcriptomic profiling identifies tumor-acquired and therapy-resistant cell states in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6307. [PMID: 39060228 PMCID: PMC11282092 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50527-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric tumor that resembles undifferentiated muscle cells; yet the extent to which cell state heterogeneity is shared with human development has not been described. Using single-cell/nucleus RNA sequencing from patient tumors, patient-derived xenografts, primary in vitro cultures, and cell lines, we identify four dominant muscle-lineage cell states: progenitor, proliferative, differentiated, and ground cells. We stratify these RMS cells/nuclei along the continuum of human muscle development and show that they share expression patterns with fetal/embryonal myogenic precursors rather than postnatal satellite cells. Fusion-negative RMS (FN-RMS) have a discrete stem cell hierarchy that recapitulates fetal muscle development and contain therapy-resistant FN-RMS progenitors that share transcriptomic similarity with bipotent skeletal mesenchymal cells. Fusion-positive RMS have tumor-acquired cells states, including a neuronal cell state, that are not found in myogenic development. This work identifies previously underappreciated cell state heterogeneity including unique treatment-resistant and tumor-acquired cell states that differ across RMS subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara G Danielli
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Yun Wei
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michael A Dyer
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Elizabeth Stewart
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Heather Sheppard
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Marco Wachtel
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Beat W Schäfer
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Anand G Patel
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - David M Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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2
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Tallan A, Kucinski J, Sunkel B, Taslim C, LaHaye S, Liu Q, Qi J, Wang M, Kendall GC, Stanton BZ. Highly quantitative measurement of differential protein-genome binding with PerCell chromatin sequencing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.12.603283. [PMID: 39071412 PMCID: PMC11275836 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.12.603283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
We report a universal strategy for 2D chromatin sequencing, to increase uniform data analyses and sharing across labs, and to facilitate highly quantitative comparisons across experimental conditions. Within our system, we provide wetlab and drylab tools for researchers to establish and analyze protein-genome binding data with PerCell ChIP-seq. Our methodology is virtually no cost and flexible, enabling rapid, quantitative, internally normalized chromatin sequencing to catalyze project development in a variety of systems, including in vivo zebrafish epigenomics and cancer cell epigenomics. While we highlight utility in these key areas, our methodology is flexible enough such that rapid comparisons of cellular spike-in versus non spike-in are possible, and generalizability to nuclease-based 2D chromatin sequencing would also be possible within the framework of our pipeline. Through the use of well-defined cellular ratios containing orthologous species' chromatin, we enable cross-species comparative epigenomics and highly quantitative low-cost chromatin sequencing with utility across a range of disciplines.
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3
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Kucinski J, Tallan A, Taslim C, Wang M, Cannon MV, Silvius KM, Stanton BZ, Kendall GC. Rhabdomyosarcoma fusion oncoprotein initially pioneers a neural signature in vivo. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.12.603270. [PMID: 39071299 PMCID: PMC11275748 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.12.603270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive pediatric cancer molecularly characterized by arrested myogenesis. The defining genetic driver, PAX3::FOXO1, functions as a chimeric gain-of-function transcription factor. An incomplete understanding of PAX3::FOXO1's in vivo epigenetic mechanisms has hindered therapeutic development. Here, we establish a PAX3::FOXO1 zebrafish injection model and semi-automated ChIP-seq normalization strategy to evaluate how PAX3::FOXO1 initially interfaces with chromatin in a developmental context. We investigated PAX3::FOXO1's recognition of chromatin and subsequent transcriptional consequences. We find that PAX3::FOXO1 interacts with inaccessible chromatin through partial/homeobox motif recognition consistent with pioneering activity. However, PAX3::FOXO1-genome binding through a composite paired-box/homeobox motif alters chromatin accessibility and redistributes H3K27ac to activate neural transcriptional programs. We uncover neural signatures that are highly representative of clinical rhabdomyosarcoma gene expression programs that are enriched following chemotherapy. Overall, we identify partial/homeobox motif recognition as a new mode for PAX3::FOXO1 pioneer function and identify neural signatures as a potentially critical PAX3::FOXO1 tumor initiation event.
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Stanton BZ, Pomella S. Epigenetic determinants of fusion-driven sarcomas: paradigms and challenges. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1416946. [PMID: 38946804 PMCID: PMC11211607 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1416946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
We describe exciting recent advances in fusion-driven sarcoma etiology, from an epigenetics perspective. By exploring the current state of the field, we identify and describe the central mechanisms that determine sarcomagenesis. Further, we discuss seminal studies in translational genomics, which enabled epigenetic characterization of fusion-driven sarcomas. Important context for epigenetic mechanisms include, but are not limited to, cell cycle and metabolism, core regulatory circuitry, 3-dimensional chromatin architectural dysregulation, integration with ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling, and translational animal modeling. Paradoxically, while the genetic requirements for oncogenic transformation are highly specific for the fusion partners, the epigenetic mechanisms we as a community have uncovered are categorically very broad. This dichotomy prompts the question of whether the investigation of rare disease epigenomics should prioritize studying individual cell populations, thereby examining whether the mechanisms of chromatin dysregulation are specific to a particular tumor. We review recent advances focusing on rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, alveolar soft part sarcoma, clear cell sarcoma, undifferentiated round cell sarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, myxoid/round liposarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and desmoplastic round cell tumor. The growing number of groundbreaking discoveries in the field, motivated us to anticipate further exciting advances in the area of mechanistic epigenomics and direct targeting of fusion transcription factors in the years ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Z. Stanton
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Silvia Pomella
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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5
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Silvius KM, Kendall GC. A Robust Closed-Tube Method for Resolving tp53M214K Genotypes. Zebrafish 2024; 21:250-254. [PMID: 38386541 PMCID: PMC11296207 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2023.0030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The tp53M214K zebrafish mutant is a versatile platform with which to model a diverse spectrum of human diseases. However, currently available genotyping methods for this mutant require lengthy hands-on processes such as restriction digests and outsourced Sanger sequencing. To address this deficiency, we leveraged high-resolution melting analysis technology in conjunction with a parallel, in-tandem wild-type spike-in approach to develop a robust genotyping protocol capable of discriminating tp53M214K zygosity. In this study, we describe our method in detail. We anticipate that our genotyping protocol will benefit researchers utilizing the tp53M214K zebrafish mutant by offering reliable results with a shorter turnaround time, lower personnel involvement, and higher throughput than traditional methods, thereby decreasing the burden of genotyping and maximizing research efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M. Silvius
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Genevieve C. Kendall
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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6
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Kucinski JP, Calderon D, Kendall GC. Biological and therapeutic insights from animal modeling of fusion-driven pediatric soft tissue sarcomas. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050704. [PMID: 38916046 PMCID: PMC11225592 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Survival for children with cancer has primarily improved over the past decades due to refinements in surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Although these general therapies are sometimes curative, the cancer often recurs, resulting in poor outcomes for patients. Fusion-driven pediatric soft tissue sarcomas are genetically defined by chromosomal translocations that create a chimeric oncogene. This distinctive, almost 'monogenic', genetic feature supports the generation of animal models to study the respective diseases in vivo. This Review focuses on a subset of fusion-driven pediatric soft tissue sarcomas that have transgenic animal tumor models, which includes fusion-positive and infantile rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, undifferentiated small round cell sarcoma, alveolar soft part sarcoma and clear cell sarcoma. Studies using the animal models of these sarcomas have highlighted that pediatric cancers require a specific cellular state or developmental stage to drive tumorigenesis, as the fusion oncogenes cause different outcomes depending on their lineage and timing of expression. Therefore, understanding these context-specific activities could identify targetable activities and mechanisms critical for tumorigenesis. Broadly, these cancers show dependencies on chromatin regulators to support oncogenic gene expression and co-opting of developmental pathways. Comparative analyses across lineages and tumor models will further provide biological and therapeutic insights to improve outcomes for these children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack P. Kucinski
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology PhD Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Delia Calderon
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology PhD Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Genevieve C. Kendall
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology PhD Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
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Harrison EN, Jay AN, Kent MR, Sukienik TP, LaVigne CA, Kendall GC. Engineering an fgfr4 knockout zebrafish to study its role in development and disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.08.593184. [PMID: 38766056 PMCID: PMC11100669 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.08.593184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) has a role in many biological processes, including lipid metabolism, tissue repair, and vertebrate development. In recent years, FGFR4 overexpression and activating mutations have been associated with numerous adult and pediatric cancers. As such, FGFR4 presents an opportunity for therapeutic targeting which is being pursued in clinical trials. To understand the role of FGFR4 signaling in disease and development, we generated and characterized three alleles of fgfr4 knockout zebrafish strains using CRISPR/Cas9. To generate fgfr4 knockout crispants, we injected single-cell wildtype zebrafish embryos with fgfr4 targeting guide RNA and Cas9 proteins, identified adult founders, and outcrossed to wildtype zebrafish to create an F1 generation. The generated mutations introduce a stop codon within the second Ig-like domain of Fgfr4, resulting in a truncated 215, 223, or 228 amino acid Fgfr4 protein compared to 922 amino acids in the full-length protein. All mutant strains exhibited significantly decreased fgfr4 mRNA expression during development, providing evidence for successful knockout of fgfr4 in mutant zebrafish. We found that, consistent with other Fgfr4 knockout animal models, the fgfr4 mutant fish developed normally; however, homozygous fgfr4 mutant zebrafish were significantly smaller than wildtype fish at three months post fertilization. These fgfr4 knockout zebrafish lines are a valuable tool to study the role of FGFR4 in vertebrate development and its viability as a potential therapeutic target in pediatric and adult cancers, as well as other diseases.
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Roy D, Subramaniam B, Chong WC, Bornhorst M, Packer RJ, Nazarian J. Zebrafish-A Suitable Model for Rapid Translation of Effective Therapies for Pediatric Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1361. [PMID: 38611039 PMCID: PMC11010887 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Pediatric cancers are the leading cause of disease-related deaths in children and adolescents. Most of these tumors are difficult to treat and have poor overall survival. Concerns have also been raised about drug toxicity and long-term detrimental side effects of therapies. In this review, we discuss the advantages and unique attributes of zebrafish as pediatric cancer models and their importance in targeted drug discovery and toxicity assays. We have also placed a special focus on zebrafish models of pediatric brain cancers-the most common and difficult solid tumor to treat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debasish Roy
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Bavani Subramaniam
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Wai Chin Chong
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Miriam Bornhorst
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Roger J. Packer
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
| | - Javad Nazarian
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20012, USA; (D.R.)
- DIPG/DMG Research Center Zurich, Children’s Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Zürich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
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9
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Kent MR, Jay AN, Kendall GC. New Dual Inducible Cellular Model to Investigate Temporal Control of Oncogenic Cooperating Genes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.23.581802. [PMID: 38464002 PMCID: PMC10925205 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.23.581802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The study of cooperating genes in cancer can lead to mechanistic understanding and identifying potential therapeutic targets. To facilitate these types of studies, we developed a new dual-inducible system utilizing the tetracycline- and cumate-inducible systems driving HES3 and the PAX3::FOXO1 fusion-oncogene, respectively, as cooperating genes from fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma. With this new model, we can independently induce expression of either HES3 or PAX3::FOXO1, as well as simultaneously induce expression of both genes. This new model will allow us to further investigate the cooperation between HES3 and PAX3::FOXO1 including the temporal requirements for genetic cooperation. This dual-inducible model can be adapted for any cooperating genes, allowing for independent, simultaneous, or temporally controlled gene expression.
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10
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Kalita B, Sahu S, Bharadwaj A, Panneerselvam L, Martinez-Cebrian G, Agarwal M, Mathew SJ. The Wnt-pathway corepressor TLE3 interacts with the histone methyltransferase KMT1A to inhibit differentiation in Rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncogene 2024; 43:524-538. [PMID: 38177411 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02911-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cells resemble differentiating skeletal muscle cells, which unlike normal muscle cells, fail to undergo terminal differentiation, underlying their proliferative and metastatic properties. We identify the corepressor TLE3 as a key regulator of rhabdomyosarcoma tumorigenesis by inhibiting the Wnt-pathway. Loss of TLE3 function leads to Wnt-pathway activation, reduced proliferation, decreased migration, and enhanced differentiation in rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Muscle-specific TLE3-knockout results in enhanced expression of terminal myogenic differentiation markers during normal mouse development. TLE3-knockout rhabdomyosarcoma cell xenografts result in significantly smaller tumors characterized by reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis and enhanced differentiation. We demonstrate that TLE3 interacts with and recruits the histone methyltransferase KMT1A, leading to repression of target gene activation and inhibition of differentiation in rhabdomyosarcoma. A combination drug therapy regime to promote Wnt-pathway activation by the small molecule BIO and inhibit KMT1A by the drug chaetocin led to significantly reduced tumor volume, decreased proliferation, increased expression of differentiation markers and increased survival in rhabdomyosarcoma tumor-bearing mice. Thus, TLE3, the Wnt-pathway and KMT1A are excellent drug targets which can be exploited for treating rhabdomyosarcoma tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhargab Kalita
- Developmental Genetics Laboratory Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) NCR Biotech Science Cluster 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
- Department of Pathology and Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Subhashni Sahu
- Developmental Genetics Laboratory Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) NCR Biotech Science Cluster 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Anushree Bharadwaj
- Developmental Genetics Laboratory Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) NCR Biotech Science Cluster 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Lakshmikanthan Panneerselvam
- Developmental Genetics Laboratory Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) NCR Biotech Science Cluster 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | | | - Megha Agarwal
- Developmental Genetics Laboratory Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) NCR Biotech Science Cluster 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
- Affiliated to Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sam J Mathew
- Developmental Genetics Laboratory Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) NCR Biotech Science Cluster 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India.
- Affiliated to Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.
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11
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Kent MR, Silvius K, Kucinski J, Calderon D, Kendall GC. Functional Genomics of Novel Rhabdomyosarcoma Fusion-Oncogenes Using Zebrafish. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2707:23-41. [PMID: 37668903 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3401-1_2] [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: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Clinical sequencing efforts continue to identify novel putative oncogenes with limited strategies to perform functional validation in vivo and study their role in tumorigenesis. Here, we present a pipeline for fusion-driven rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in vivo modeling using transgenic zebrafish systems. This strategy originates with novel fusion-oncogenes identified from patient samples that require functional validation in vertebrate systems, integrating these genes into the zebrafish genome, and then characterizing that they indeed drive rhabdomyosarcoma tumor formation. In this scenario, the human form of the fusion-oncogene is inserted into the zebrafish genome to understand if it is an oncogene, and if so, the underlying mechanisms of tumorigenesis. This approach has been successful in our models of infantile rhabdomyosarcoma and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, both driven by respective fusion-oncogenes, VGLL2-NCOA2 and PAX3-FOXO1. Our described zebrafish platform is a rapid method to understand the impact of fusion-oncogene activity, divergent and shared fusion-oncogene biology, and whether any analyzed pathways converge for potential clinically actionable targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Kent
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Katherine Silvius
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jack Kucinski
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Ph.D. Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Delia Calderon
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Ph.D. Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Genevieve C Kendall
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
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12
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Zarrabi A, Perrin D, Kavoosi M, Sommer M, Sezen S, Mehrbod P, Bhushan B, Machaj F, Rosik J, Kawalec P, Afifi S, Bolandi SM, Koleini P, Taheri M, Madrakian T, Łos MJ, Lindsey B, Cakir N, Zarepour A, Hushmandi K, Fallah A, Koc B, Khosravi A, Ahmadi M, Logue S, Orive G, Pecic S, Gordon JW, Ghavami S. Rhabdomyosarcoma: Current Therapy, Challenges, and Future Approaches to Treatment Strategies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5269. [PMID: 37958442 PMCID: PMC10650215 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare cancer arising in skeletal muscle that typically impacts children and young adults. It is a worldwide challenge in child health as treatment outcomes for metastatic and recurrent disease still pose a major concern for both basic and clinical scientists. The treatment strategies for rhabdomyosarcoma include multi-agent chemotherapies after surgical resection with or without ionization radiotherapy. In this comprehensive review, we first provide a detailed clinical understanding of rhabdomyosarcoma including its classification and subtypes, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Later, we focus on chemotherapy strategies for this childhood sarcoma and discuss the impact of three mechanisms that are involved in the chemotherapy response including apoptosis, macro-autophagy, and the unfolded protein response. Finally, we discuss in vivo mouse and zebrafish models and in vitro three-dimensional bioengineering models of rhabdomyosarcoma to screen future therapeutic approaches and promote muscle regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Sariyer, Istanbul 34396, Türkiye; (A.Z.); (A.Z.)
| | - David Perrin
- Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (D.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Mahboubeh Kavoosi
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Biotechnology Center, Silesian University of Technology, 8 Krzywousty St., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Micah Sommer
- Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (D.P.); (M.S.)
- Section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
| | - Serap Sezen
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye; (S.S.); (N.C.); (B.K.)
| | - Parvaneh Mehrbod
- Department of Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran 1316943551, Iran;
| | - Bhavya Bhushan
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C7, Canada
| | - Filip Machaj
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jakub Rosik
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Philip Kawalec
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB R3A 1R9, Canada
| | - Saba Afifi
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Seyed Mohammadreza Bolandi
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Peiman Koleini
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Mohsen Taheri
- Genetics of Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 9816743463, Iran;
| | - Tayyebeh Madrakian
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan 6517838695, Iran; (T.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Marek J. Łos
- Biotechnology Center, Silesian University of Technology, 8 Krzywousty St., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Benjamin Lindsey
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Nilufer Cakir
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye; (S.S.); (N.C.); (B.K.)
| | - Atefeh Zarepour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Sariyer, Istanbul 34396, Türkiye; (A.Z.); (A.Z.)
| | - Kiavash Hushmandi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Division of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran 1419963114, Iran;
| | - Ali Fallah
- Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Research and Application Center, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye;
| | - Bahattin Koc
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye; (S.S.); (N.C.); (B.K.)
- Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Research and Application Center, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye;
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye
| | - Arezoo Khosravi
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istanbul Okan University, Istanbul 34959, Türkiye;
| | - Mazaher Ahmadi
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan 6517838695, Iran; (T.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Susan Logue
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Gorka Orive
- NanoBioCel Research Group, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 01007 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain;
- University Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Oral Implantology–UIRMI (UPV/EHU-Fundación Eduardo Anitua), 01007 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
- Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Stevan Pecic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA;
| | - Joseph W. Gordon
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
| | - Saeid Ghavami
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Biology of Breathing Theme, Children Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
- Autophagy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7134845794, Iran
- Academy of Silesia, Faculty of Medicine, Rolna 43, 40-555 Katowice, Poland
- Research Institutes of Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Care Manitoba-University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
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13
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Patel P, Nandi A, Verma SK, Kaushik N, Suar M, Choi EH, Kaushik NK. Zebrafish-based platform for emerging bio-contaminants and virus inactivation research. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 872:162197. [PMID: 36781138 PMCID: PMC9922160 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Emerging bio-contaminants such as viruses have affected health and environment settings of every country. Viruses are the minuscule entities resulting in severe contagious diseases like SARS, MERS, Ebola, and avian influenza. Recent epidemic like the SARS-CoV-2, the virus has undergone mutations strengthen them and allowing to escape from the remedies. Comprehensive knowledge of viruses is essential for the development of targeted therapeutic and vaccination treatments. Animal models mimicking human biology like non-human primates, rats, mice, and rabbits offer competitive advantage to assess risk of viral infections, chemical toxins, nanoparticles, and microbes. However, their economic maintenance has always been an issue. Furthermore, the redundancy of experimental results due to aforementioned aspects is also in examine. Hence, exploration for the alternative animal models is crucial for risk assessments. The current review examines zebrafish traits and explores the possibilities to monitor emerging bio-contaminants. Additionally, a comprehensive picture of the bio contaminant and virus particle invasion and abatement mechanisms in zebrafish and human cells is presented. Moreover, a zebrafish model to investigate the emerging viruses such as coronaviridae and poxviridae has been suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paritosh Patel
- Plasma Bioscience Research Center, Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, 01897 Seoul, South Korea
| | - Aditya Nandi
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
| | - Suresh K Verma
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India; Condensed Matter Theory Group, Materials Theory Division, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Neha Kaushik
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Engineering, The University of Suwon, 18323 Hwaseong, Republic of Korea
| | - Mrutyunjay Suar
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
| | - Eun Ha Choi
- Plasma Bioscience Research Center, Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, 01897 Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Nagendra Kumar Kaushik
- Plasma Bioscience Research Center, Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, 01897 Seoul, South Korea.
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14
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Kent MR, Calderon D, Silvius KM, Kucinski JP, LaVigne CA, Cannon MV, Kendall GC. Zebrafish her3 knockout impacts developmental and cancer-related gene signatures. Dev Biol 2023; 496:1-14. [PMID: 36696714 PMCID: PMC10054701 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2023.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
HES3 is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that regulates neural stem cell renewal during development. HES3 overexpression is predictive of reduced overall survival in patients with fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma, a pediatric cancer that resembles immature and undifferentiated skeletal muscle. However, the mechanisms of HES3 cooperation in fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma are unclear and are likely related to her3/HES3's role in neurogenesis. To investigate HES3's function during development, we generated a zebrafish CRISPR/Cas9 null mutation of her3, the zebrafish ortholog of HES3. Loss of her3 is not embryonic lethal and adults exhibit expected Mendelian ratios. Embryonic her3 zebrafish mutants exhibit dysregulated neurog1 expression, a her3 target gene, and the mutant her3 fails to bind the neurog1 promoter sequence. Further, her3 mutants are significantly smaller than wildtype and a subset present with lens defects as adults. Transcriptomic analysis of her3 mutant embryos indicates that genes involved in organ development, such as pctp and grinab, are significantly downregulated. Further, differentially expressed genes in her3 null mutant embryos are enriched for Hox and Sox10 motifs. Several cancer-related gene pathways are impacted, including the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases. Altogether, this new model is a powerful system to study her3/HES3-mediated neural development and its misappropriation in cancer contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Kent
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
| | - Delia Calderon
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Ph.D. Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Katherine M Silvius
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
| | - Jack P Kucinski
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Ph.D. Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Collette A LaVigne
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Matthew V Cannon
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
| | - Genevieve C Kendall
- Center for Childhood Cancer & Blood Diseases, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Ph.D. Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.
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15
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Watson S, LaVigne CA, Xu L, Surdez D, Cyrta J, Calderon D, Cannon MV, Kent MR, Silvius KM, Kucinski JP, Harrison EN, Murchison W, Rakheja D, Tirode F, Delattre O, Amatruda JF, Kendall GC. VGLL2-NCOA2 leverages developmental programs for pediatric sarcomagenesis. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112013. [PMID: 36656711 PMCID: PMC10054615 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical sequencing efforts are rapidly identifying sarcoma gene fusions that lack functional validation. An example is the fusion of transcriptional coactivators, VGLL2-NCOA2, found in infantile rhabdomyosarcoma. To delineate VGLL2-NCOA2 tumorigenic mechanisms and identify therapeutic vulnerabilities, we implement a cross-species comparative oncology approach with zebrafish, mouse allograft, and patient samples. We find that VGLL2-NCOA2 is sufficient to generate mesenchymal tumors that display features of immature skeletal muscle and recapitulate the human disease. A subset of VGLL2-NCOA2 zebrafish tumors transcriptionally cluster with embryonic somitogenesis and identify VGLL2-NCOA2 developmental programs, including a RAS family GTPase, ARF6. In VGLL2-NCOA2 zebrafish, mouse, and patient tumors, ARF6 is highly expressed. ARF6 knockout suppresses VGLL2-NCOA2 oncogenic activity in cell culture, and, more broadly, ARF6 is overexpressed in adult and pediatric sarcomas. Our data indicate that VGLL2-NCOA2 is an oncogene that leverages developmental programs for tumorigenesis and that reactivation or persistence of ARF6 could represent a therapeutic opportunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Watson
- Institut Curie Research Center, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University, INSERM U830, 75005 Paris, France; Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University, Medical Oncology Department, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Collette A LaVigne
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Lin Xu
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Didier Surdez
- Institut Curie Research Center, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University, INSERM U830, 75005 Paris, France; Balgrist University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich (UZH), 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Joanna Cyrta
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University, Department of Pathology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Delia Calderon
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Ph.D. Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Matthew V Cannon
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Matthew R Kent
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Katherine M Silvius
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Jack P Kucinski
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Ph.D. Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Emma N Harrison
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Whitney Murchison
- Department of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Dinesh Rakheja
- Department of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Franck Tirode
- University Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre LéonBérard, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Olivier Delattre
- Institut Curie Research Center, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University, INSERM U830, 75005 Paris, France; Institut Curie, SIREDO Pediatric Center, 75005 Paris, France; Institut Curie Hospital Group, Unité de Génétique Somatique, 75005 Paris, France
| | - James F Amatruda
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
| | - Genevieve C Kendall
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
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16
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Silvius KM, Kendall GC. A robust closed-tube method for resolving tp53 M214K genotypes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.20.524903. [PMID: 36747876 PMCID: PMC9900746 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.20.524903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The tp53 M214K zebrafish mutant developed by Berghmans et al 2005 1 is a versatile platform with which to model a diverse spectrum of human diseases. However, currently available genotyping methods for this mutant require lengthy processes such as restriction digests and outsourced Sanger sequencing. To address this deficiency, we leveraged high-resolution melting analysis (HRMA) technology in conjunction with a parallel, in-tandem wildtype spike-in approach to develop a robust genotyping protocol capable of discriminating tp53 M214K zygosity. Here, we describe our method in detail. We anticipate that our genotyping protocol will benefit researchers utilizing the tp53 M214K zebrafish mutant by offering reliable results with a faster turnaround time than conventional approaches.
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17
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Zhang S, Wang J, Liu Q, McDonald WH, Bomber ML, Layden HM, Ellis J, Borinstein SC, Hiebert SW, Stengel KR. PAX3-FOXO1 coordinates enhancer architecture, eRNA transcription, and RNA polymerase pause release at select gene targets. Mol Cell 2022; 82:4428-4442.e7. [PMID: 36395771 PMCID: PMC9731406 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional control is a highly dynamic process that changes rapidly in response to various cellular and extracellular cues, making it difficult to define the mechanism of transcription factor function using slow genetic methods. We used a chemical-genetic approach to rapidly degrade a canonical transcriptional activator, PAX3-FOXO1, to define the mechanism by which it regulates gene expression programs. By coupling rapid protein degradation with the analysis of nascent transcription over short time courses and integrating CUT&RUN, ATAC-seq, and eRNA analysis with deep proteomic analysis, we defined PAX3-FOXO1 function at a small network of direct transcriptional targets. PAX3-FOXO1 degradation impaired RNA polymerase pause release and transcription elongation at most regulated gene targets. Moreover, the activity of PAX3-FOXO1 at enhancers controlling this core network was surprisingly selective, affecting single elements in super-enhancers. This combinatorial analysis indicated that PAX3-FOXO1 was continuously required to maintain chromatin accessibility and enhancer architecture at regulated enhancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susu Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37203, USA; Center for Quantitative Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37203, USA; Center for Quantitative Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - W Hayes McDonald
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Monica L Bomber
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Hillary M Layden
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jacob Ellis
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Scott C Borinstein
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37203, USA; Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN 37027, USA
| | - Scott W Hiebert
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN 37027, USA.
| | - Kristy R Stengel
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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18
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Kahsay A, Rodriguez-Marquez E, López-Pérez A, Hörnblad A, von Hofsten J. Pax3 loss of function delays tumour progression in kRAS-induced zebrafish rhabdomyosarcoma models. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17149. [PMID: 36229514 PMCID: PMC9561152 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21525-5] [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: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft tissue cancer that arises in skeletal muscle due to mutations in myogenic progenitors that lead to ineffective differentiation and malignant transformation. The transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7 and their downstream target genes are tightly linked with the fusion positive alveolar subtype, whereas the RAS pathway is usually involved in the embryonal, fusion negative variant. Here, we analyse the role of Pax3 in a fusion negative context, by linking alterations in gene expression in pax3a/pax3b double mutant zebrafish with tumour progression in kRAS-induced rhabdomyosarcoma tumours. Several genes in the RAS/MAPK signalling pathway were significantly down-regulated in pax3a/pax3b double mutant zebrafish. Progression of rhabdomyosarcoma tumours was also delayed in the pax3a/pax3b double mutant zebrafish indicating that Pax3 transcription factors have an unappreciated role in mediating malignancy in fusion negative rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Kahsay
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Integrative Medical Biology (IMB), Umeå University, Johan Bures Väg 12, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - E. Rodriguez-Marquez
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Integrative Medical Biology (IMB), Umeå University, Johan Bures Väg 12, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - A. López-Pérez
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Johan Bures Väg 12, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - A. Hörnblad
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Johan Bures Väg 12, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - J. von Hofsten
- grid.12650.300000 0001 1034 3451Integrative Medical Biology (IMB), Umeå University, Johan Bures Väg 12, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
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19
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Zebrafish Models of Paediatric Brain Tumours. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179920. [PMID: 36077320 PMCID: PMC9456103 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Paediatric brain cancer is the second most common childhood cancer and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. Despite significant advancements in the treatment modalities and improvements in the 5-year survival rate, it leaves long-term therapy-associated side effects in paediatric patients. Addressing these impairments demands further understanding of the molecularity and heterogeneity of these brain tumours, which can be demonstrated using different animal models of paediatric brain cancer. Here we review the use of zebrafish as potential in vivo models for paediatric brain tumour modelling, as well as catalogue the currently available zebrafish models used to study paediatric brain cancer pathophysiology, and discuss key findings, the unique attributes that these models add, current challenges and therapeutic significance.
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20
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Singh S, Abu-Zaid A, Jin H, Fang J, Wu Q, Wang T, Feng H, Quarni W, Shao Y, Maxham L, Abdolvahabi A, Yun MK, Vaithiyalingam S, Tan H, Bowling J, Honnell V, Young B, Guo Y, Bajpai R, Pruett-Miller SM, Grosveld GC, Hatley M, Xu B, Fan Y, Wu G, Chen EY, Chen T, Lewis PW, Rankovic Z, Li Y, Murphy AJ, Easton J, Peng J, Chen X, Wang R, White SW, Davidoff AM, Yang J. Targeting KDM4 for treating PAX3-FOXO1-driven alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabq2096. [PMID: 35857643 PMCID: PMC9548378 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq2096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric transcription factors drive lineage-specific oncogenesis but are notoriously difficult to target. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive childhood soft tissue sarcoma transformed by the pathognomonic Paired Box 3-Forkhead Box O1 (PAX3-FOXO1) fusion protein, which governs a core regulatory circuitry transcription factor network. Here, we show that the histone lysine demethylase 4B (KDM4B) is a therapeutic vulnerability for PAX3-FOXO1+ RMS. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of KDM4B substantially delayed tumor growth. Suppression of KDM4 proteins inhibited the expression of core oncogenic transcription factors and caused epigenetic alterations of PAX3-FOXO1-governed superenhancers. Combining KDM4 inhibition with cytotoxic chemotherapy led to tumor regression in preclinical PAX3-FOXO1+ RMS subcutaneous xenograft models. In summary, we identified a targetable mechanism required for maintenance of the PAX3-FOXO1-related transcription factor network, which may translate to a therapeutic approach for fusion-positive RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivendra Singh
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Ahmed Abu-Zaid
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Hongjian Jin
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jie Fang
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Tingting Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disease, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Helin Feng
- Department of Orthopedics, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, China
| | - Waise Quarni
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Ying Shao
- Department of Computational Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Lily Maxham
- Department of Computational Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Alireza Abdolvahabi
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Mi-Kyung Yun
- Department of Structural Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Sivaraja Vaithiyalingam
- Department of Structural Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.,Protein Technologies Center, Molecular Interaction Analysis, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Haiyan Tan
- Department of Structural Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.,Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - John Bowling
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Victoria Honnell
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Brandon Young
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yian Guo
- Department of Biostatistics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Richa Bajpai
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Shondra M. Pruett-Miller
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Gerard C Grosveld
- Department of Genetics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Mark Hatley
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Beisi Xu
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yiping Fan
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Gang Wu
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Eleanor Y. Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Taosheng Chen
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Peter W. Lewis
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, USA
| | - Zoran Rankovic
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yimei Li
- Department of Biostatistics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Andrew J. Murphy
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - John Easton
- Department of Computational Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Junmin Peng
- Department of Structural Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.,Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Computational Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Ruoning Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disease, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Stephen W. White
- Department of Structural Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Andrew M. Davidoff
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.,Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 930 Madison Ave, Suite 500, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
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21
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Manceau L, Richard Albert J, Lollini PL, Greenberg MVC, Gilardi-Hebenstreit P, Ribes V. Divergent transcriptional and transforming properties of PAX3-FOXO1 and PAX7-FOXO1 paralogs. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1009782. [PMID: 35604932 PMCID: PMC9166405 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The hallmarks of the alveolar subclass of rhabdomyosarcoma are chromosomal translocations that generate chimeric PAX3-FOXO1 or PAX7-FOXO1 transcription factors. Overexpression of either PAX-FOXO1s results in related cell transformation in animal models. Yet, in patients the two structural genetic aberrations they derived from are associated with distinct pathological manifestations. To assess the mechanisms underlying these differences, we generated isogenic fibroblast lines expressing either PAX-FOXO1 paralog. Mapping of their genomic recruitment using CUT&Tag revealed that the two chimeric proteins have distinct DNA binding preferences. In addition, PAX7-FOXO1 binding results in greater recruitment of the H3K27ac activation mark than PAX3-FOXO1 binding and is accompanied by greater transcriptional activation of neighbouring genes. These effects are associated with a PAX-FOXO1-specific alteration in the expression of genes regulating cell shape and the cell cycle. Consistently, PAX3-FOXO1 accentuates fibroblast cellular traits associated with contractility and surface adhesion and limits entry into S phase. In contrast, PAX7-FOXO1 drives cells to adopt an amoeboid shape, reduces entry into M phase, and causes increased DNA damage. Altogether, our results argue that the diversity of rhabdomyosarcoma manifestation arises, in part, from the divergence between the genomic occupancy and transcriptional activity of PAX3-FOXO1 and PAX7-FOXO1. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a class of paediatric soft tissue cancers of genetic origin, but for which the causal links between genetic aberrations and tumour development remain to be deciphered. To answer this question, we focused on the products of two chromosomal translocations that generate the chimeric proteins PAX3-FOXO1 and PAX7-FOXO1. They are composed of the DNA-binding domains of the PAX3 or PAX7 proteins and a single portion of the FOXO1 protein. Several clinical parameters distinguish patients expressing PAX3-FOXO1 or PAX7-FOXO1 and we wondered if these differences could emanate from a different mode of action of the two chimeric proteins. Thus, we generated inducible human fibroblast cell lines expressing one or the other protein. We analysed some molecular and cellular characteristics of these cells 48 hours after induction of PAX3-FOXO1 or PAX7-FOXO1. As it was previously known for PAX3-FOXO1, we showed that PAX7-FOXO1 binds genomic DNA on cis-regulatory regions and activates them. Surprisingly, PAX7-FOXO1 only partially shares the DNA binding sites of PAX3-FOXO1 and its activation potential is stronger than that of PAX3-FOXO1. Thus, PAX3-FOXO1 and PAX7-FOXO1 generate partially divergent transcriptomic signatures, which include genes encoding regulators of cell morphology and cell cycle, two key oncogenic processes. In agreement, our data revealed specificities in these two processes that are either PAX3-FOXO1 or PAX7-FOXO1 dependent. Overall our results demonstrate a differential mode of action between the two chimeric proteins that could in turn participate in the heterogeneity of rhabdomyosarcoma manifestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Manceau
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013 Paris, France
| | | | - Pier-Luigi Lollini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Vanessa Ribes
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013 Paris, France
- * E-mail: (PG-H); (VR)
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22
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Vasileva E, Warren M, Triche TJ, Amatruda JF. Dysregulated heparan sulfate proteoglycan metabolism promotes Ewing sarcoma tumor growth. eLife 2022; 11:69734. [PMID: 35285802 PMCID: PMC8942468 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ewing sarcoma family of tumors is a group of malignant small round blue cell tumors (SRBCTs) that affects children, adolescents, and young adults. The tumors are characterized by reciprocal chromosomal translocations that generate chimeric fusion oncogenes, the most common of which is EWSR1-FLI1. Survival is extremely poor for patients with metastatic or relapsed disease, and no molecularly-targeted therapy for this disease currently exists. The absence of a reliable genetic animal model of Ewing sarcoma has impaired investigation of tumor cell/microenvironmental interactions in vivo. We have developed a new genetic model of Ewing sarcoma based on Cre-inducible expression of human EWSR1-FLI1 in wild type zebrafish, which causes rapid onset of SRBCTs at high penetrance. The tumors express canonical EWSR1-FLI1 target genes and stain for known Ewing sarcoma markers including CD99. Growth of tumors is associated with activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway, which we link to dysregulated extracellular matrix metabolism in general and heparan sulfate catabolism in particular. Targeting heparan sulfate proteoglycans with the specific heparan sulfate antagonist Surfen reduces ERK1/2 signaling and decreases tumorigenicity of Ewing sarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo. These results highlight the important role of the extracellular matrix in Ewing sarcoma tumor growth and the potential of agents targeting proteoglycan metabolism as novel therapies for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Vasileva
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Mikako Warren
- Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - Timothy J Triche
- Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
| | - James F Amatruda
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States
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23
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Treffy RW, Rajan SG, Jiang X, Nacke LM, Malkana UA, Naiche LA, Bergey DE, Santana D, Rajagopalan V, Kitajewski JK, O'Bryan JP, Saxena A. Neuroblastoma differentiation in vivo excludes cranial tumors. Dev Cell 2021; 56:2752-2764.e6. [PMID: 34610330 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.09.014] [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: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB), the most common cancer in the first year of life, presents almost exclusively in the trunk. To understand why an early-onset cancer would have such a specific localization, we xenotransplanted human NB cells into discrete neural crest (NC) streams in zebrafish embryos. Here, we demonstrate that human NB cells remain in an undifferentiated, tumorigenic state when comigrating posteriorly with NC cells but, upon comigration into the head, differentiate into neurons and exhibit decreased survival. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this in vivo differentiation requires retinoic acid and brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling from the microenvironment, as well as cell-autonomous intersectin-1-dependent phosphoinositide 3-kinase-mediated signaling, likely via Akt kinase activation. Our findings suggest a microenvironment-driven explanation for NB's trunk-biased localization and highlight the potential for induced differentiation to promote NB resolution in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randall W Treffy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Sriivatsan G Rajan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Xinghang Jiang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Lynne M Nacke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Usama A Malkana
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - L A Naiche
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Dani E Bergey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Dianicha Santana
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Vinodh Rajagopalan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Jan K Kitajewski
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - John P O'Bryan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
| | - Ankur Saxena
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
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24
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HER Tyrosine Kinase Family and Rhabdomyosarcoma: Role in Onset and Targeted Therapy. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071808. [PMID: 34359977 PMCID: PMC8305095 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are tumors of the skeletal muscle lineage. Two main features allow for distinction between subtypes: morphology and presence/absence of a translocation between the PAX3 (or PAX7) and FOXO1 genes. The two main subtypes are fusion-positive alveolar RMS (ARMS) and fusion-negative embryonal RMS (ERMS). This review will focus on the role of receptor tyrosine kinases of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family that is comprised EGFR itself, HER2, HER3 and HER4 in RMS onset and the potential therapeutic targeting of receptor tyrosine kinases. EGFR is highly expressed by ERMS tumors and cell lines, in some cases contributing to tumor growth. If not mutated, HER2 is not directly involved in control of RMS cell growth but can be expressed at significant levels. A minority of ERMS carries a HER2 mutation with driving activity on tumor growth. HER3 is frequently overexpressed by RMS and can play a role in the residual myogenic differentiation ability and in resistance to signaling-directed therapy. HER family members could be exploited for therapeutic approaches in two ways: blocking the HER member (playing a driving role for tumor growth with antibodies or inhibitors) and targeting expressed HER members to vehiculate toxins or immune effectors.
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25
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Butler E, Ludwig K, Pacenta HL, Klesse LJ, Watt TC, Laetsch TW. Recent progress in the treatment of cancer in children. CA Cancer J Clin 2021; 71:315-332. [PMID: 33793968 DOI: 10.3322/caac.21665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although significant improvements have been made in the outcomes of children with cancer, the pace of improvement has slowed in recent years as the limits of therapy intensification may have been reached for many pediatric cancers. Furthermore, with increasing numbers of pediatric cancer survivors, the long-term side effects of treatment have become increasingly apparent. Therefore, attention has shifted to the use of molecularly targeted agents and immunotherapies to improve the outcomes of children who are not cured by traditional cytotoxic chemotherapies and to decrease exposure to cytotoxic chemotherapy and reduce late effects. This review describes the recent progress in the treatment of children with cancer, focusing in particular on diseases in which targeted and immunotherapeutic agents have made an impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Butler
- Department of Pediatrics and Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health, Dallas, Texas
| | - Kathleen Ludwig
- Department of Pediatrics and Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health, Dallas, Texas
| | - Holly L Pacenta
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas
| | - Laura J Klesse
- Department of Pediatrics and Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health, Dallas, Texas
| | - Tanya C Watt
- Department of Pediatrics and Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health, Dallas, Texas
| | - Theodore W Laetsch
- Division of Oncology and Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics and Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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26
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Preclinical In Vivo Modeling of Pediatric Sarcoma-Promises and Limitations. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10081578. [PMID: 33918045 PMCID: PMC8069549 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10081578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric sarcomas are an extremely heterogeneous group of genetically distinct diseases. Despite the increasing knowledge on their molecular makeup in recent years, true therapeutic advancements are largely lacking and prognosis often remains dim, particularly for relapsed and metastasized patients. Since this is largely due to the lack of suitable model systems as a prerequisite to develop and assess novel therapeutics, we here review the available approaches to model sarcoma in vivo. We focused on genetically engineered and patient-derived mouse models, compared strengths and weaknesses, and finally explored possibilities and limitations to utilize these models to advance both biological understanding as well as clinical diagnosis and therapy.
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27
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Kannan S, Lock I, Ozenberger BB, Jones KB. Genetic drivers and cells of origin in sarcomagenesis. J Pathol 2021; 254:474-493. [DOI: 10.1002/path.5617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarmishta Kannan
- Departments of Orthopaedics and Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Ian Lock
- Departments of Orthopaedics and Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Benjamin B Ozenberger
- Departments of Orthopaedics and Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Kevin B Jones
- Departments of Orthopaedics and Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City UT USA
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28
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Li Z, Zheng W, Wang H, Cheng Y, Fang Y, Wu F, Sun G, Sun G, Lv C, Hui B. Application of Animal Models in Cancer Research: Recent Progress and Future Prospects. Cancer Manag Res 2021; 13:2455-2475. [PMID: 33758544 PMCID: PMC7979343 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s302565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models refers to the animal experimental objects and related materials that can simulate human body established in medical research. As the second-largest disease in terms of morbidity and mortality after cardiovascular disease, cancer has always been the focus of human attention all over the world, which makes it a research hotspot in the medical field. At the same time, more and more animal models have been constructed and used in cancer research. With the deepening of research, the construction methods of cancer animal models are becoming more and more diverse, including chemical induction, xenotransplantation, gene programming, and so on. In recent years, patient-derived xenotransplantation (PDX) model has become a research hotspot because it can retain the microenvironment of the primary tumor and the basic characteristics of cells. Animal models can be used not only to study the biochemical and physiological processes of the occurrence and development of cancer in objects but also for the screening of cancer drugs and the exploration of gene therapy. In this paper, several main tumor animal models and the application progress of animal models in tumor research are systematically reviewed. Finally, combined with the latest progress and development trend in this field, the future research of tumor animal model was prospected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhitao Li
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wubin Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hanjin Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yijiao Fang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoqiang Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangshun Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengyu Lv
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingqing Hui
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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29
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Abstract
Zebrafish are rapidly becoming a leading model organism for cancer research. The genetic pathways driving cancer are highly conserved between zebrafish and humans, and the ability to easily manipulate the zebrafish genome to rapidly generate transgenic animals makes zebrafish an excellent model organism. Transgenic zebrafish containing complex, patient-relevant genotypes have been used to model many cancer types. Here we present a comprehensive review of transgenic zebrafish cancer models as a resource to the field and highlight important areas of cancer biology that have yet to be studied in the fish. The ability to image cancer cells and niche biology in an endogenous tumor makes zebrafish an indispensable model organism in which we can further understand the mechanisms that drive tumorigenesis and screen for potential new cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia M. McConnell
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02138, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Haley R. Noonan
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02138, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Leonard I. Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02138, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02138, USA
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30
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Amatruda JF. Modeling the developmental origins of pediatric cancer to improve patient outcomes. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:14/2/dmm048930. [PMID: 33619212 PMCID: PMC7927656 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.048930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the treatment of children and adolescents with cancer, multimodal approaches combining surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can cure most patients, but may cause lifelong health problems in survivors. Current therapies only modestly reflect increased knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of these cancers. Advances in next-generation sequencing have provided unprecedented cataloging of genetic aberrations in tumors, but understanding how these genetic changes drive cellular transformation, and how they can be effectively targeted, will require multidisciplinary collaboration and preclinical models that are truly representative of the in vivo environment. Here, I discuss some of the key challenges in pediatric cancer from my perspective as a physician-scientist, and touch on some promising new approaches that have the potential to transform our understanding of these diseases. Summary: This Perspective discusses the special features that make it challenging to develop new therapies for pediatric cancers, and the ways in which collaboration centered on improved models can meet these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Amatruda
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
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31
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Veerappa AM. Cascade of interactions between candidate genes reveals convergent mechanisms in keratoconus disease pathogenesis. Ophthalmic Genet 2021; 42:114-131. [PMID: 33554698 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2020.1868013] [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: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Keratoconus is a progressive thinning, steepening and distortion of the cornea which can lead to loss of vision if left untreated. Keratoconus has a complex multifactorial etiology, with genetic and environmental components contributing to the disease pathophysiology. Studies have observed high concordance between monozygotic twins, discordance between dizygotic twins, and high familial segregation indicating the presence of a very strong genetic component in the pathogenesis of keratoconus. The use of genome-wide linkage studies on families and twins, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on case-controls, next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based genomic screens on both familial and non-familial cohorts have led to the identification of keratoconus candidate genes with much greater success and increased resproducibility of genetic findings. This review focuses on candidate genes identified till date and attempts to understand their role in biological processes underlying keratoconus pathogenesis. In addition, using these genes I propose molecular pathways that could contribute to keratoconus pathogenesis. The pathways identified the presence of direct cross-talk between known candidate genes of keratoconus and remarkably, 28 known candidate genes have a direct relationship among themselves that involves direct protein-protein binding, regulatory activities such as activation and inhibition, chaperone, transcriptional activation/co-activation, and enzyme catalysis. This review attempts to describe these relationships and cross-talks in the context of keratoconus pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash M Veerappa
- Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
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32
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Gonzalez Curto G, Der Vartanian A, Frarma YEM, Manceau L, Baldi L, Prisco S, Elarouci N, Causeret F, Korenkov D, Rigolet M, Aurade F, De Reynies A, Contremoulins V, Relaix F, Faklaris O, Briscoe J, Gilardi-Hebenstreit P, Ribes V. The PAX-FOXO1s trigger fast trans-differentiation of chick embryonic neural cells into alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma with tissue invasive properties limited by S phase entry inhibition. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1009164. [PMID: 33175861 PMCID: PMC7682867 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The chromosome translocations generating PAX3-FOXO1 and PAX7-FOXO1 chimeric proteins are the primary hallmarks of the paediatric fusion-positive alveolar subtype of Rhabdomyosarcoma (FP-RMS). Despite the ability of these transcription factors to remodel chromatin landscapes and promote the expression of tumour driver genes, they only inefficiently promote malignant transformation in vivo. The reason for this is unclear. To address this, we developed an in ovo model to follow the response of spinal cord progenitors to PAX-FOXO1s. Our data demonstrate that PAX-FOXO1s, but not wild-type PAX3 or PAX7, trigger the trans-differentiation of neural cells into FP-RMS-like cells with myogenic characteristics. In parallel, PAX-FOXO1s remodel the neural pseudo-stratified epithelium into a cohesive mesenchyme capable of tissue invasion. Surprisingly, expression of PAX-FOXO1s, similar to wild-type PAX3/7, reduce the levels of CDK-CYCLIN activity and increase the fraction of cells in G1. Introduction of CYCLIN D1 or MYCN overcomes this PAX-FOXO1-mediated cell cycle inhibition and promotes tumour growth. Together, our findings reveal a mechanism that can explain the apparent limited oncogenicity of PAX-FOXO1 fusion transcription factors. They are also consistent with certain clinical reports indicative of a neural origin of FP-RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Line Manceau
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, France
| | - Lorenzo Baldi
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, France
| | - Selene Prisco
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, France
| | - Nabila Elarouci
- Programme Cartes d'Identité des Tumeurs, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Causeret
- Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, Team Genetics and Development of the Cerebral Cortex, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, INSERM U1266, Paris, France
| | - Daniil Korenkov
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, France
| | - Muriel Rigolet
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, EnVA, EFS, IMRB, Créteil, France
| | - Frédéric Aurade
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, EnVA, EFS, IMRB, Créteil, France
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, UMRS974, Center for Research in Myology, Paris, France
| | - Aurélien De Reynies
- Programme Cartes d'Identité des Tumeurs, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Contremoulins
- ImagoSeine core facility of Institut Jacques Monod and member of France-BioImaging, France
| | - Frédéric Relaix
- Univ Paris Est Créteil, INSERM, EnVA, EFS, IMRB, Créteil, France
| | - Orestis Faklaris
- ImagoSeine core facility of Institut Jacques Monod and member of France-BioImaging, France
| | - James Briscoe
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Vanessa Ribes
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, France
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33
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Showpnil IA, Miller KR, Taslim C, Pishas KI, Lessnick SL, Theisen ER. Mapping the Structure-Function Relationships of Disordered Oncogenic Transcription Factors Using Transcriptomic Analysis. J Vis Exp 2020. [PMID: 32658189 DOI: 10.3791/61564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Many cancers are characterized by chromosomal translocations which result in the expression of oncogenic fusion transcription factors. Typically, these proteins contain an intrinsically disordered domain (IDD) fused with the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of another protein and orchestrate widespread transcriptional changes to promote malignancy. These fusions are often the sole recurring genomic aberration in the cancers they cause, making them attractive therapeutic targets. However, targeting oncogenic transcription factors requires a better understanding of the mechanistic role that low-complexity, IDDs play in their function. The N-terminal domain of EWSR1 is an IDD involved in a variety of oncogenic fusion transcription factors, including EWS/FLI, EWS/ATF, and EWS/WT1. Here, we use RNA-sequencing to investigate the structural features of the EWS domain important for transcriptional function of EWS/FLI in Ewing sarcoma. First shRNA-mediated depletion of the endogenous fusion from Ewing sarcoma cells paired with ectopic expression of a variety of EWS-mutant constructs is performed. Then RNA-sequencing is used to analyze the transcriptomes of cells expressing these constructs to characterize the functional deficits associated with mutations in the EWS domain. By integrating the transcriptomic analyses with previously published information about EWS/FLI DNA binding motifs, and genomic localization, as well as functional assays for transforming ability, we were able to identify structural features of EWS/FLI important for oncogenesis and define a novel set of EWS/FLI target genes critical for Ewing sarcoma. This paper demonstrates the use of RNA-sequencing as a method to map the structure-function relationship of the intrinsically disordered domain of oncogenic transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iftekhar A Showpnil
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Program, The Ohio State University
| | - Kyle R Miller
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
| | - Cenny Taslim
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
| | - Kathleen I Pishas
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital
| | - Stephen L Lessnick
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital; Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Blood & Marrow Transplant, The Ohio State University
| | - Emily R Theisen
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University;
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34
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Fazio M, Ablain J, Chuan Y, Langenau DM, Zon LI. Zebrafish patient avatars in cancer biology and precision cancer therapy. Nat Rev Cancer 2020; 20:263-273. [PMID: 32251397 PMCID: PMC8011456 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-020-0252-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
In precision oncology, two major strategies are being pursued for predicting clinically relevant tumour behaviours, such as treatment response and emergence of drug resistance: inference based on genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic and/or proteomic analysis of patient samples, and phenotypic assays in personalized cancer avatars. The latter approach has historically relied on in vivo mouse xenografts and in vitro organoids or 2D cell cultures. Recent progress in rapid combinatorial genetic modelling, the development of a genetically immunocompromised strain for xenotransplantation of human patient samples in adult zebrafish and the first clinical trial using xenotransplantation in zebrafish larvae for phenotypic testing of drug response bring this tiny vertebrate to the forefront of the precision medicine arena. In this Review, we discuss advances in transgenic and transplantation-based zebrafish cancer avatars, and how these models compare with and complement mouse xenografts and human organoids. We also outline the unique opportunities that these different models present for prediction studies and current challenges they face for future clinical deployment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Fazio
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julien Ablain
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yan Chuan
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - David M Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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35
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Casey MJ, Stewart RA. Pediatric Cancer Models in Zebrafish. Trends Cancer 2020; 6:407-418. [PMID: 32348736 PMCID: PMC7194396 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric cancer is a leading cause of death in children and adolescents. Improvements in pediatric cancer treatment that include the alleviation of long-term adverse effects require a deeper understanding of the genetic, epigenetic, and developmental factors driving these cancers. Here, we review how the unique attributes of the zebrafish model system in embryology, imaging, and scalability have been used to identify new mechanisms of tumor initiation, progression, and relapse and for drug discovery. We focus on zebrafish models of leukemias, neural tumors and sarcomas - the most common and difficult childhood cancers to treat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattie J Casey
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Rodney A Stewart
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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36
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Liu Z, Zhang X, Lei H, Lam N, Carter S, Yockey O, Xu M, Mendoza A, Hernandez ER, Wei JS, Khan J, Yohe ME, Shern JF, Thiele CJ. CASZ1 induces skeletal muscle and rhabdomyosarcoma differentiation through a feed-forward loop with MYOD and MYOG. Nat Commun 2020; 11:911. [PMID: 32060262 PMCID: PMC7021771 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14684-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) is a childhood cancer that expresses myogenic master regulatory factor MYOD but fails to differentiate. Here, we show that the zinc finger transcription factor CASZ1 up-regulates MYOD signature genes and induces skeletal muscle differentiation in normal myoblasts and ERMS. The oncogenic activation of the RAS-MEK pathway suppresses CASZ1 expression in ERMS. ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq and RNA-seq experiments reveal that CASZ1 directly up-regulates skeletal muscle genes and represses non-muscle genes through affecting regional epigenetic modifications, chromatin accessibility and super-enhancer establishment. Next generation sequencing of primary RMS tumors identified a single nucleotide variant in the CASZ1 coding region that potentially contributes to ERMS tumorigenesis. Taken together, loss of CASZ1 activity, due to RAS-MEK signaling or genetic alteration, impairs ERMS differentiation, contributing to RMS tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Liu
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Xiyuan Zhang
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Haiyan Lei
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Norris Lam
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sakereh Carter
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Oliver Yockey
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Max Xu
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Arnulfo Mendoza
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Edjay R Hernandez
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jun S Wei
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marielle E Yohe
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jack F Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Carol J Thiele
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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37
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Yohe ME, Heske CM, Stewart E, Adamson PC, Ahmed N, Antonescu CR, Chen E, Collins N, Ehrlich A, Galindo RL, Gryder BE, Hahn H, Hammond S, Hatley ME, Hawkins DS, Hayes MN, Hayes-Jordan A, Helman LJ, Hettmer S, Ignatius MS, Keller C, Khan J, Kirsch DG, Linardic CM, Lupo PJ, Rota R, Shern JF, Shipley J, Sindiri S, Tapscott SJ, Vakoc CR, Wexler LH, Langenau DM. Insights into pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma research: Challenges and goals. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2019; 66:e27869. [PMID: 31222885 PMCID: PMC6707829 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.27869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Overall survival rates for pediatric patients with high-risk or relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) have not improved significantly since the 1980s. Recent studies have identified a number of targetable vulnerabilities in RMS, but these discoveries have infrequently translated into clinical trials. We propose streamlining the process by which agents are selected for clinical evaluation in RMS. We believe that strong consideration should be given to the development of combination therapies that add biologically targeted agents to conventional cytotoxic drugs. One example of this type of combination is the addition of the WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 to the conventional cytotoxic chemotherapeutics, vincristine and irinotecan.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Nabil Ahmed
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | | | | | | | | | - Rene L. Galindo
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | | | - Heidi Hahn
- University Medical Center Gӧttingen, Gӧttingen, Germany
| | | | - Mark E. Hatley
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Douglas S. Hawkins
- Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98105
| | - Madeline N. Hayes
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02114
| | | | - Lee J. Helman
- Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027
| | | | | | - Charles Keller
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR 97005
| | - Javed Khan
- National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | | | | | - Philip J. Lupo
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Rossella Rota
- Children’s Hospital Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Janet Shipley
- The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - David M. Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02114
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38
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Poser SW, Otto O, Arps-Forker C, Ge Y, Herbig M, Andree C, Gruetzmann K, Adasme MF, Stodolak S, Nikolakopoulou P, Park DM, Mcintyre A, Lesche M, Dahl A, Lennig P, Bornstein SR, Schroeck E, Klink B, Leker RR, Bickle M, Chrousos GP, Schroeder M, Cannistraci CV, Guck J, Androutsellis-Theotokis A. Controlling distinct signaling states in cultured cancer cells provides a new platform for drug discovery. FASEB J 2019; 33:9235-9249. [PMID: 31145643 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201802603rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells can switch between signaling pathways to regulate growth under different conditions. In the tumor microenvironment, this likely helps them evade therapies that target specific pathways. We must identify all possible states and utilize them in drug screening programs. One such state is characterized by expression of the transcription factor Hairy and Enhancer of Split 3 (HES3) and sensitivity to HES3 knockdown, and it can be modeled in vitro. Here, we cultured 3 primary human brain cancer cell lines under 3 different culture conditions that maintain low, medium, and high HES3 expression and characterized gene regulation and mechanical phenotype in these states. We assessed gene expression regulation following HES3 knockdown in the HES3-high conditions. We then employed a commonly used human brain tumor cell line to screen Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved compounds that specifically target the HES3-high state. We report that cells from multiple patients behave similarly when placed under distinct culture conditions. We identified 37 FDA-approved compounds that specifically kill cancer cells in the high-HES3-expression conditions. Our work reveals a novel signaling state in cancer, biomarkers, a strategy to identify treatments against it, and a set of putative drugs for potential repurposing.-Poser, S. W., Otto, O., Arps-Forker, C., Ge, Y., Herbig, M., Andree, C., Gruetzmann, K., Adasme, M. F., Stodolak, S., Nikolakopoulou, P., Park, D. M., Mcintyre, A., Lesche, M., Dahl, A., Lennig, P., Bornstein, S. R., Schroeck, E., Klink, B., Leker, R. R., Bickle, M., Chrousos, G. P., Schroeder, M., Cannistraci, C. V., Guck, J., Androutsellis-Theotokis, A. Controlling distinct signaling states in cultured cancer cells provides a new platform for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven W Poser
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Oliver Otto
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Carina Arps-Forker
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Yan Ge
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Biomedical Cybernetics Group, Department of Physics, Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Center for Systems Biology Dresden (CSBD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maik Herbig
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Cordula Andree
- Technology Development Studio, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Konrad Gruetzmann
- Core Unit for Molecular Tumor Diagnostics (CMTD), National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Dresden, Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Melissa F Adasme
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Szymon Stodolak
- Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Deric M Park
- Department of Neurology, Committee on Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,Innate Repair, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Mcintyre
- Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Mathias Lesche
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Dahl
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Petra Lennig
- B - CUBE Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan R Bornstein
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Innate Repair, London, United Kingdom
| | - Evelin Schroeck
- Core Unit for Molecular Tumor Diagnostics (CMTD), National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Dresden, Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany.,Institute for Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Barbara Klink
- Core Unit for Molecular Tumor Diagnostics (CMTD), National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Dresden, Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Dresden, Germany.,Institute for Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ronen R Leker
- Stroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Stroke Center and the Peritz and Chantal Sheinberg Cerebrovascular Research Laboratory, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Marc Bickle
- Technology Development Studio, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - George P Chrousos
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.,Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Michael Schroeder
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Carlo Vittorio Cannistraci
- Biomedical Cybernetics Group, Department of Physics, Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Center for Systems Biology Dresden (CSBD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Brain Bio-Inspired Computing (BBC) Lab, IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Messina, Italy
| | - Jochen Guck
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Androutsellis-Theotokis
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.,Innate Repair, London, United Kingdom.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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39
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Wang R, Zuo X, Wang K, Han Q, Zuo J, Ni H, Liu W, Bao H, Tu Y, Xie P. MicroRNA-485-5p attenuates cell proliferation in glioma by directly targeting paired box 3. Am J Cancer Res 2018; 8:2507-2517. [PMID: 30662807 PMCID: PMC6325470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA-485-5p (miR-485-5p) has been reported to be involved in the development and progression of human cancers; however, its role in glioma remains unclear. In the present study, we found that miR-485-5p was significantly down-regulated in both glioma tissues and cell lines. Functional experiments indicated that enhanced expression of miR-485-5p attenuated glioma cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, and induced glioma cells cycle arrest in G1. MiR-485-5p was found to directly bind to the 3'-UTR of paired box 3 (PAX3) and decrease its expression of protein level, which further inhibits the proliferation of glioma. The decreasing of PAX3 was found to lead to the accumulation of p-JNK. Mechanistic studies revealed that restoring the expression of PAX3 alleviated miR-485-5p-induced inhibition of proliferation of glioma cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that PAX3 modulation by miR-485-5p has an important role in regulating glioma proliferation, and miR-485-5p might be a novel therapeutic target for glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ren Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Huai’an Women and Children’s HospitalHuai’an 223002, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Xiaohua Zuo
- Department of Pain Management, Huai’an Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Second People’s Hospital of Huai’anHuai’an, Jiangsu, PR China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huai’an Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Second People’s Hospital of Huai’anHuai’an, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Qiu Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huai’an Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Second People’s Hospital of Huai’anHuai’an, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Jiandong Zuo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huai’an Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Second People’s Hospital of Huai’anHuai’an, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Hongzao Ni
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huai’an Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Second People’s Hospital of Huai’anHuai’an, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Wenguang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huai’an Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Second People’s Hospital of Huai’anHuai’an, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Hongguang Bao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Yiming Tu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing 210000, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Peng Xie
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huai’an Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Second People’s Hospital of Huai’anHuai’an, Jiangsu, PR China
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