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Técher H, Gopaul D, Heuzé J, Bouzalmad N, Leray B, Vernet A, Mettling C, Moreaux J, Pasero P, Lin YL. MRE11 and TREX1 control senescence by coordinating replication stress and interferon signaling. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5423. [PMID: 38926338 PMCID: PMC11208572 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49740-w] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) arrests cell proliferation in response to replication stress (RS) induced by oncogenes. OIS depends on the DNA damage response (DDR), but also on the cGAS-STING pathway, which detects cytosolic DNA and induces type I interferons (IFNs). Whether and how RS and IFN responses cooperate to promote OIS remains unknown. Here, we show that the induction of OIS by the H-RASV12 oncogene in immortalized human fibroblasts depends on the MRE11 nuclease. Indeed, treatment with the MRE11 inhibitor Mirin prevented RS, micronuclei formation and IFN response induced by RASV12. Overexpression of the cytosolic nuclease TREX1 also prevented OIS. Conversely, overexpression of a dominant negative mutant of TREX1 or treatment with IFN-β was sufficient to induce RS and DNA damage, independent of RASV12 induction. These data suggest that the IFN response acts as a positive feedback loop to amplify DDR in OIS through a process regulated by MRE11 and TREX1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hervé Técher
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS UMR7284 - INSERM U1081, Nice, France
| | - Diyavarshini Gopaul
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, 2200 N, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jonathan Heuzé
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France
| | - Nail Bouzalmad
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France
| | - Baptiste Leray
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France
| | - Audrey Vernet
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France
| | - Clément Mettling
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Jérôme Moreaux
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
- Department of Biological Hematology, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- University of Montpellier, UFR Medicine, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Pasero
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France.
| | - Yea-Lih Lin
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France.
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2
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Zhang Y, Ostrowski SM, Fisher DE. Nevi and Melanoma. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2024:S0889-8588(24)00054-6. [PMID: 38880666 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2024.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer derived from skin melanocytes and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A significant fraction of melanomas are associated with precursor lesions, benign clonal proliferations of melanocytes called nevi. Nevi can be either congenital or acquired later in life. Identical oncogenic driver mutations are found in benign nevi and melanoma. While much progress has been made in our understanding of nevus formation and the molecular steps required for transformation of nevi into melanoma, the clinical diagnosis of benign versus malignant lesions remains challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Stephen M Ostrowski
- Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - David E Fisher
- Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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3
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Bennett DC. Review: Are moles senescent? Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2024; 37:391-402. [PMID: 38361107 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Melanocytic nevi (skin moles) have been regarded as a valuable example of cell senescence occurring in vivo. However, a study of induced nevi in a mouse model reported that the nevi were arrested by cell interactions rather than a cell-autonomous process like senescence, and that size distributions of cell nests within nevi could not be accounted for by a stochastic model of oncogene-induced senescence. Moreover, others reported that some molecular markers used to identify cell senescence in human nevi are also found in melanoma cells-not senescent. It has thus been questioned whether nevi really are senescent, with potential implications for melanoma diagnosis and therapy. Here I review these areas, along with the genetic, biological, and molecular evidence supporting senescence in nevi. In conclusion, there is strong evidence that cells of acquired human benign (banal) nevi are very largely senescent, though some must contain a minor non-senescent cell subpopulation. There is also persuasive evidence that this senescence is primarily induced by dysfunctional telomeres rather than directly oncogene-induced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothy C Bennett
- Molecular & Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
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4
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Dobre EG, Nichita L, Popp C, Zurac S, Neagu M. Assessment of RAS-RAF-MAPK Pathway Mutation Status in Healthy Skin, Benign Nevi, and Cutaneous Melanomas: Pilot Study Using Droplet Digital PCR. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2308. [PMID: 38396984 PMCID: PMC10889428 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042308] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we employed the ddPCR and IHC techniques to assess the prevalence and roles of RAS and RAF mutations in a small batch of melanoma (n = 22), benign moles (n = 15), and normal skin samples (n = 15). Mutational screening revealed the coexistence of BRAF and NRAS mutations in melanomas and nevi and the occurrence of NRAS G12/G13 variants in healthy skin. All investigated nevi had driver mutations in the BRAF or NRAS genes and elevated p16 protein expression, indicating cell cycle arrest despite an increased mutational burden. BRAF V600 mutations were identified in 54% of melanomas, and NRAS G12/G13 mutations in 50%. The BRAF mutations were associated with the Breslow index (BI) (p = 0.029) and TIL infiltration (p = 0.027), whereas the NRAS mutations correlated with the BI (p = 0.01) and the mitotic index (p = 0.04). Here, we demonstrate that the "young" ddPCR technology is as effective as a CE-IVD marked real-time PCR method for detecting BRAF V600 hotspot mutations in tumor biopsies and recommend it for extended use in clinical settings. Moreover, ddPCR was able to detect low-frequency hotspot mutations, such as NRAS G12/G13, in our tissue specimens, which makes it a promising tool for investigating the mutational landscape of sun-damaged skin, benign nevi, and melanomas in more extensive clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena-Georgiana Dobre
- Doctoral School, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania;
- “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (L.N.); (C.P.); (S.Z.)
| | - Luciana Nichita
- “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (L.N.); (C.P.); (S.Z.)
- Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristiana Popp
- “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (L.N.); (C.P.); (S.Z.)
- Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sabina Zurac
- “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (L.N.); (C.P.); (S.Z.)
- Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Monica Neagu
- Doctoral School, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania;
- “Victor Babes” National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania; (L.N.); (C.P.); (S.Z.)
- Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
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5
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Lorbeer FK, Rieser G, Goel A, Wang M, Oh A, Yeh I, Bastian BC, Hockemeyer D. Distinct senescence mechanisms restrain progression of dysplastic nevi. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae041. [PMID: 38371417 PMCID: PMC10873501 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations (TPMs) are frequently found in different cancer types, including ∼70% of sun-exposed skin melanomas. In melanoma, TPMs are among the earliest mutations and can be present during the transition from nevus to melanoma. However, the specific factors that contribute to the selection of TPMs in certain nevi subsets are not well understood. To investigate this, we analyzed a group of dysplastic nevi (DN) by sequencing genes commonly mutated in melanocytic neoplasms. We examined the relationship between the identified mutations, patient age, telomere length, histological features, and the expression of p16. Our findings reveal that TPMs are more prevalent in DN from older patients and are associated with shorter telomeres. Importantly, these TPMs were not found in nevi with BRAF V600E mutations. Conversely, DN with BRAF V600E mutations were observed in younger patients, had longer telomeres and a higher proportion of p16-positive cells. This suggests that these nevi arrest growth independently of telomere shortening through a mechanism known as oncogene-induced senescence (OIS). These characteristics extend to melanoma-sequencing datasets, where melanomas with BRAF V600E mutations were more likely to have a CDKN2A inactivation, overriding OIS. In contrast, melanomas without BRAF V600E mutations showed a higher frequency of TPMs. Our data imply that TPMs are selected to bypass replicative senescence (RS) in cells that were not arrested by OIS. Overall, our results indicate that a subset of melanocytic neoplasms face constraints from RS, while others encounter OIS and RS. The order in which these barriers are overcome during progression to melanoma depends on the mutational context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska K Lorbeer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Gabrielle Rieser
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Aditya Goel
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Areum Oh
- Rebus Biosystems, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA
| | - Iwei Yeh
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Boris C Bastian
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Dirk Hockemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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6
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Xiao H, Shiu J, Chen CF, Wu J, Zhou P, Telang SS, Ruiz-Vega R, Nie Q, Lander AD, Ganesan AK. Uncovering Minimal Pathways in Melanoma Initiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.08.570336. [PMID: 38106189 PMCID: PMC10723457 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.08.570336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanomas are clinically and histologically heterogeneous. Most display activating mutations in Braf or Nras and complete loss of function of one or more tumor suppressor genes. Mouse models that replicate such mutations produce fast-growing, pigmented tumors. However, mice that combine Braf activation with only heterozygous loss of Pten also produce tumors and, as we show here, in an Albino background this occurs even with Braf activation alone. Such tumors arise rarely, grow slowly, and express low levels of pigmentation genes. The timing of their appearance was consistent with a single step stochastic event, but no evidence could be found that it required de novo mutation, suggesting instead the involvement of an epigenetic transition. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed such tumors to be heterogeneous, including a minor cell type we term LNM ( L ow-pigment, N eural- and extracellular M atrix-signature) that displays gene expression resembling "neural crest"-like cell subsets detected in the fast-growing tumors of more heavily-mutated mice, as well as in human biopsy and xenograft samples. We provide evidence that LNM cells pre-exist in normal skin, are expanded by Braf activation, can transition into malignant cells, and persist with malignant cells through multiple rounds of transplantation. We discuss the possibility that LNM cells not only serve as a pre-malignant state in the production of some melanomas, but also as an important intermediate in the development of drug resistance.
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7
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Wang X, Plikus MV. Aged Skin Cells Nurture Stem Cells toward Regeneration. J Invest Dermatol 2024; 144:11-14. [PMID: 37897482 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Wang
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Maksim V Plikus
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; NSF-Simons Center for Multiscale Cell Fate Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.
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8
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Maldonado López AM, Ko EK, Huang S, Pacella G, Kuprasertkul N, D’souza CA, Reyes Hueros RA, Shen H, Stoute J, Elashal H, Sinkfield M, Anderson A, Prouty S, Li HB, Seykora JT, Liu KF, Capell BC. Mettl3-catalyzed m 6A regulates histone modifier and modification expression in self-renewing somatic tissue. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg5234. [PMID: 37656787 PMCID: PMC10854438 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg5234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant modification on messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and is catalyzed by methyltransferase-like protein 3 (Mettl3). To understand the role of m6A in a self-renewing somatic tissue, we deleted Mettl3 in epidermal progenitors in vivo. Mice lacking Mettl3 demonstrate marked features of dysfunctional development and self-renewal, including a loss of hair follicle morphogenesis and impaired cell adhesion and polarity associated with oral ulcerations. We show that Mettl3 promotes the m6A-mediated degradation of mRNAs encoding critical histone modifying enzymes. Depletion of Mettl3 results in the loss of m6A on these mRNAs and increases their expression and associated modifications, resulting in widespread gene expression abnormalities that mirror the gross phenotypic abnormalities. Collectively, these results have identified an additional layer of gene regulation within epithelial tissues, revealing an essential role for m6A in the regulation of chromatin modifiers, and underscoring a critical role for Mettl3-catalyzed m6A in proper epithelial development and self-renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M. Maldonado López
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Eun Kyung Ko
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sijia Huang
- Penn Institute of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Gina Pacella
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nina Kuprasertkul
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Carina A. D’souza
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Raúl A. Reyes Hueros
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hui Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Julian Stoute
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Heidi Elashal
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Morgan Sinkfield
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Amy Anderson
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Stephen Prouty
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hua-Bing Li
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute for Immune Metabolism, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine-Yale University, Shanghai, China
| | - John T. Seykora
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kathy Fange Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Brian C. Capell
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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9
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Abstract
Over the past decade, melanoma has led the field in new cancer treatments, with impressive gains in on-treatment survival but more modest improvements in overall survival. Melanoma presents heterogeneity and transcriptional plasticity that recapitulates distinct melanocyte developmental states and phenotypes, allowing it to adapt to and eventually escape even the most advanced treatments. Despite remarkable advances in our understanding of melanoma biology and genetics, the melanoma cell of origin is still fiercely debated because both melanocyte stem cells and mature melanocytes can be transformed. Animal models and high-throughput single-cell sequencing approaches have opened new opportunities to address this question. Here, we discuss the melanocytic journey from the neural crest, where they emerge as melanoblasts, to the fully mature pigmented melanocytes resident in several tissues. We describe a new understanding of melanocyte biology and the different melanocyte subpopulations and microenvironments they inhabit, and how this provides unique insights into melanoma initiation and progression. We highlight recent findings on melanoma heterogeneity and transcriptional plasticity and their implications for exciting new research areas and treatment opportunities. The lessons from melanocyte biology reveal how cells that are present to protect us from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation reach back to their origins to become a potentially deadly cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia P Centeno
- Molecular Oncology Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, UK
| | - Valeria Pavet
- Molecular Oncology Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, UK
| | - Richard Marais
- Molecular Oncology Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, UK.
- Oncodrug Ltd, Alderly Park, Macclesfield, UK.
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10
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Howell R, Davies J, Clarke MA, Appios A, Mesquita I, Jayal Y, Ringham-Terry B, Boned Del Rio I, Fisher J, Bennett CL. Localized immune surveillance of primary melanoma in the skin deciphered through executable modeling. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd1992. [PMID: 37043573 PMCID: PMC10096595 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add1992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
While skin is a site of active immune surveillance, primary melanomas often escape detection. Here, we have developed an in silico model to determine the local cross-talk between melanomas and Langerhans cells (LCs), the primary antigen-presenting cells at the site of melanoma development. The model predicts that melanomas fail to activate LC migration to lymph nodes until tumors reach a critical size, which is determined by a positive TNF-α feedback loop within melanomas, in line with our observations of murine tumors. In silico drug screening, supported by subsequent experimental testing, shows that treatment of primary tumors with MAPK pathway inhibitors may further prevent LC migration. In addition, our in silico model predicts treatment combinations that bypass LC dysfunction. In conclusion, our combined approach of in silico and in vivo studies suggests a molecular mechanism that explains how early melanomas develop under the radar of immune surveillance by LC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Matthew A. Clarke
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Anna Appios
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Inês Mesquita
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Yashoda Jayal
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Ben Ringham-Terry
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Isabel Boned Del Rio
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London WC1E 6DD, UK
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11
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Chen JY, Hug C, Reyes J, Tian C, Gerosa L, Fröhlich F, Ponsioen B, Snippert HJG, Spencer SL, Jambhekar A, Sorger PK, Lahav G. Multi-range ERK responses shape the proliferative trajectory of single cells following oncogene induction. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112252. [PMID: 36920903 PMCID: PMC10153468 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncogene-induced senescence is a phenomenon in which aberrant oncogene expression causes non-transformed cells to enter a non-proliferative state. Cells undergoing oncogenic induction display phenotypic heterogeneity, with some cells senescing and others remaining proliferative. The causes of heterogeneity remain unclear. We studied the sources of heterogeneity in the responses of human epithelial cells to oncogenic BRAFV600E expression. We found that a narrow expression range of BRAFV600E generated a wide range of activities of its downstream effector ERK. In population-level and single-cell assays, ERK activity displayed a non-monotonic relationship to proliferation, with intermediate ERK activities leading to maximal proliferation. We profiled gene expression across a range of ERK activities over time and characterized four distinct ERK response classes, which we propose act in concert to generate the ERK-proliferation response. Altogether, our studies map the input-output relationships between ERK activity and proliferation, elucidating how heterogeneity can be generated during oncogene induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Yun Chen
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Clemens Hug
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - José Reyes
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chengzhe Tian
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA; BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA; Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Luca Gerosa
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Fabian Fröhlich
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Bas Ponsioen
- Molecular Cancer Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hugo J G Snippert
- Molecular Cancer Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sabrina L Spencer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA; BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Ashwini Jambhekar
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter K Sorger
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Galit Lahav
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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12
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Maher NG, Scolyer RA, Colebatch AJ. Biology and genetics of acquired and congenital melanocytic naevi. Pathology 2023; 55:169-177. [PMID: 36635156 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2022.12.344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Acquired and congenital melanocytic naevi are common benign neoplasms. Understanding their biology and genetics will help clinicians and pathologists correctly diagnose melanocytic tumours, and generate insights into naevus aetiology and melanomagenesis. Genomic data from published studies analysing acquired and congenital melanocytic naevi, including oncogenic driver mutations, common melanoma associated mutations, copy number aberrations, somatic mutation signature patterns, methylation profile, and single nucleotide polymorphisms, were reviewed. Correlation of genomic changes to dermoscopic features, particular anatomic sites and total body naevus counts, was also performed. This review also highlights current scientific theories and evidence concerning naevi growth arrest. Acquired and congenital melanocytic naevi show simple genomes, typically characterised by mutually exclusive single oncogenic driver mutations in either BRAF or NRAS genes. Genomic differences exist between acquired and congenital naevi, common and dysplastic naevi, and by dermoscopic features. Acquired naevi show a higher rate of BRAF hotspot mutations and a lower rate of NRAS hotspot mutations compared to congenital naevi. Dysplastic naevi show upregulation of follicular keratinocyte-related genes compared to common naevi. Anatomical locations and DNA signatures of naevi implicates ultraviolet radiation and non-ultraviolet radiation pathways in naevogenesis. DNA driver point mutations in acquired and congenital melanocytic naevi have been well characterised. Future research is required to better understand transcriptional and epigenetic changes in naevi, as well as those regulating naevus growth arrest and cell environment signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel G Maher
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard A Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Andrew J Colebatch
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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13
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Tong X, Burks HE, Ren Z, Koetsier JL, Roth-Carter QR, Green KJ. Crosstalk in skin: Loss of desmoglein 1 in keratinocytes inhibits BRAF V600E-induced cellular senescence in human melanocytes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.16.528886. [PMID: 36824910 PMCID: PMC9949056 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.16.528886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma arises from transformation of melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis where they are surrounded by keratinocytes, with which they interact through cell contact and paracrine communication. Considerable effort has been devoted to determining how the accumulation of oncogene and tumor suppressor gene mutations in melanocytes drive melanoma development. However, the extent to which alterations in keratinocytes that occur in the developing tumor niche serve as extrinsic drivers of melanoma initiation and progression is poorly understood. We recently identified the keratinocyte-specific cadherin, desmoglein 1 (Dsg1), as an important mediator of keratinocyte:melanoma cell crosstalk, demonstrating that its chronic loss, which can occur through melanoma cell-dependent paracrine signaling, promotes behaviors that mimic a malignant phenotype. Here we address the extent to which Dsg1 loss affects early steps in melanomagenesis. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that paracrine signals from Dsg1-deficient keratinocytes mediate a transcriptional switch from a differentiated to undifferentiated cell state in melanocytes expressing BRAFV600E, a driver mutation commonly present in both melanoma and benign nevi and reported to cause growth arrest and oncogene-induced senescence (OIS). Of ~220 differentially expressed genes in BRAFV600E cells treated with Dsg1-deficient conditioned media (CM), the laminin superfamily member NTN4/Netrin-4, which inhibits senescence in endothelial cells, stood out. Indeed, while BRAFV600E melanocytes treated with Dsg1-deficient CM showed signs of senescence bypass as assessed by increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity and decreased p16, knockdown of NTN4 reversed these effects. These results suggest that Dsg1 loss in keratinocytes provides an extrinsic signal to push melanocytes towards oncogenic transformation once an initial mutation has been introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Tong
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Hope E. Burks
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ziyou Ren
- Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jennifer L. Koetsier
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Quinn R. Roth-Carter
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kathleen J. Green
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
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14
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Vittoria MA, Kingston N, Kotynkova K, Xia E, Hong R, Huang L, McDonald S, Tilston-Lunel A, Darp R, Campbell JD, Lang D, Xu X, Ceol CJ, Varelas X, Ganem NJ. Inactivation of the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway promotes melanoma. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3732. [PMID: 35768444 PMCID: PMC9243107 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31399-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is commonly driven by activating mutations in the MAP kinase BRAF; however, oncogenic BRAF alone is insufficient to promote melanomagenesis. Instead, its expression induces a transient proliferative burst that ultimately ceases with the development of benign nevi comprised of growth-arrested melanocytes. The tumor suppressive mechanisms that restrain nevus melanocyte proliferation remain poorly understood. Here we utilize cell and murine models to demonstrate that oncogenic BRAF leads to activation of the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway, both in melanocytes in vitro and nevus melanocytes in vivo. Mechanistically, we show that oncogenic BRAF promotes both ERK-dependent alterations in the actin cytoskeleton and whole-genome doubling events, which independently reduce RhoA activity to promote Hippo activation. We also demonstrate that functional impairment of the Hippo pathway enables oncogenic BRAF-expressing melanocytes to bypass nevus formation and rapidly form melanomas. Our data reveal that the Hippo pathway enforces the stable arrest of nevus melanocytes and represents a critical barrier to melanoma development. Activating mutations of BRAF alone are inadequate to drive melanoma formation. Here the authors show that activation of Hippo signalling by oncogenic BRAF represents an additional safeguard to limit BRAF-dependent human melanocyte growth and melanoma formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc A Vittoria
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Nathan Kingston
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Kristyna Kotynkova
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Eric Xia
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Rui Hong
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Lee Huang
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Shayna McDonald
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Andrew Tilston-Lunel
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Revati Darp
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Joshua D Campbell
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Deborah Lang
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Xiaowei Xu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Craig J Ceol
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Xaralabos Varelas
- Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Neil J Ganem
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
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15
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Monti N, Verna R, Piombarolo A, Querqui A, Bizzarri M, Fedeli V. Paradoxical Behavior of Oncogenes Undermines the Somatic Mutation Theory. Biomolecules 2022; 12:662. [PMID: 35625590 PMCID: PMC9138429 DOI: 10.3390/biom12050662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The currently accepted theory on the influence of DNA mutations on carcinogenesis (the Somatic Mutation Theory, SMT) is facing an increasing number of controversial results that undermine the explanatory power of mutated genes considered as "causative" factors. Intriguing results have demonstrated that several critical genes may act differently, as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, while phenotypic reversion of cancerous cells/tissues can be achieved by modifying the microenvironment, the mutations they are carrying notwithstanding. Furthermore, a high burden of mutations has been identified in many non-cancerous tissues without any apparent pathological consequence. All things considered, a relevant body of unexplained inconsistencies calls for an in depth rewiring of our theoretical models. Ignoring these paradoxes is no longer sustainable. By avoiding these conundrums, the scientific community will deprive itself of the opportunity to achieve real progress in this important biomedical field. To remedy this situation, we need to embrace new theoretical perspectives, taking the cell-microenvironment interplay as the privileged pathogenetic level of observation, and by assuming new explanatory models based on truly different premises. New theoretical frameworks dawned in the last two decades principally focus on the complex interaction between cells and their microenvironment, which is thought to be the critical level from which carcinogenesis arises. Indeed, both molecular and biophysical components of the stroma can dramatically drive cell fate commitment and cell outcome in opposite directions, even in the presence of the same stimulus. Therefore, such a novel approach can help in solving apparently inextricable paradoxes that are increasingly observed in cancer biology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Valeria Fedeli
- Systems Biology Group Lab, Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.M.); (R.V.); (A.P.); (A.Q.); (M.B.)
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16
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Abstract
Drug resistance and metastasis—the major complications in cancer—both entail adaptation of cancer cells to stress, whether a drug or a lethal new environment. Intriguingly, these adaptive processes share similar features that cannot be explained by a pure Darwinian scheme, including dormancy, increased heterogeneity, and stress-induced plasticity. Here, we propose that learning theory offers a framework to explain these features and may shed light on these two intricate processes. In this framework, learning is performed at the single-cell level, by stress-driven exploratory trial-and-error. Such a process is not contingent on pre-existing pathways but on a random search for a state that diminishes the stress. We review underlying mechanisms that may support this search, and show by using a learning model that such exploratory learning is feasible in a high-dimensional system as the cell. At the population level, we view the tissue as a network of exploring agents that communicate, restraining cancer formation in health. In this view, disease results from the breakdown of homeostasis between cellular exploratory drive and tissue homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aseel Shomar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
- Network Biology Research Laboratory, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Omri Barak
- Network Biology Research Laboratory, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
- Rappaport Faculty of Medicine Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Naama Brenner
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
- Network Biology Research Laboratory, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
- Corresponding author
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17
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Parkman GL, Foth M, Kircher DA, Holmen SL, McMahon M. The role of PI3'-lipid signalling in melanoma initiation, progression and maintenance. Exp Dermatol 2022; 31:43-56. [PMID: 34717019 PMCID: PMC8724390 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinases (PI3Ks) are a family of lipid kinases that phosphorylate the 3' hydroxyl (OH) of the inositol ring of phosphatidylinositides (PI). Through their downstream effectors, PI3K generated lipids (PI3K-lipids hereafter) such as PI(3,4,5)P3 and PI(3,4)P2 regulate myriad biochemical and biological processes in both normal and cancer cells including responses to growth hormones and cytokines; the cell division cycle; cell death; cellular growth; angiogenesis; membrane dynamics; and autophagy and many aspects of cellular metabolism. Engagement of receptor tyrosine kinase by their cognate ligands leads to activation of members of the Class I family of PI3'-kinases (PI3Kα, β, δ & γ) leading to accumulation of PI3K-lipids. Importantly, PI3K-lipid accumulation is antagonized by the hydrolytic action of a number of PI3K-lipid phosphatases, most notably the melanoma suppressor PTEN (lipid phosphatase and tensin homologue). Downstream of PI3K-lipid production, the protein kinases AKT1-3 are believed to be key effectors of PI3'-kinase signalling in cells. Indeed, in preclinical models, activation of the PI3K→AKT signalling axis cooperates with alterations such as expression of the BRAFV600E oncoprotein kinase to promote melanoma progression and metastasis. In this review, we describe the different classes of PI3K-lipid effectors, and how they may promote melanomagenesis, influence the tumour microenvironment, melanoma maintenance and progression to metastatic disease. We also provide an update on both FDA-approved or experimental inhibitors of the PI3K→AKT pathway that are currently being evaluated for the treatment of melanoma either in preclinical models or in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gennie L. Parkman
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Mona Foth
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - David A. Kircher
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Sheri L. Holmen
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Martin McMahon
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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18
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Abstract
Environmental cues, not oncogene-induced senescence, may stop melanocytes with an activating mutation in the BRAF gene from turning into melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Shiu
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
| | - Arthur D Lander
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology and the Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, United States
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19
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McNeal AS, Belote RL, Zeng H, Urquijo M, Barker K, Torres R, Curtin M, Shain AH, Andtbacka RHI, Holmen S, Lum DH, McCalmont TH, VanBrocklin MW, Grossman D, Wei ML, Lang UE, Judson-Torres RL. BRAF V600E induces reversible mitotic arrest in human melanocytes via microrna-mediated suppression of AURKB. eLife 2021; 10:e70385. [PMID: 34812139 PMCID: PMC8610417 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Benign melanocytic nevi frequently emerge when an acquired BRAFV600E mutation triggers unchecked proliferation and subsequent arrest in melanocytes. Recent observations have challenged the role of oncogene-induced senescence in melanocytic nevus formation, necessitating investigations into alternative mechanisms for the establishment and maintenance of proliferation arrest in nevi. We compared the transcriptomes of melanocytes from healthy human skin, nevi, and melanomas arising from nevi and identified a set of microRNAs as highly expressed nevus-enriched transcripts. Two of these microRNAs-MIR211-5p and MIR328-3p-induced mitotic failure, genome duplication, and proliferation arrest in human melanocytes through convergent targeting of AURKB. We demonstrate that BRAFV600E induces a similar proliferation arrest in primary human melanocytes that is both reversible and conditional. Specifically, BRAFV600E expression stimulates either arrest or proliferation depending on the differentiation state of the melanocyte. We report genome duplication in human melanocytic nevi, reciprocal expression of AURKB and microRNAs in nevi and melanomas, and rescue of arrested human nevus cells with AURKB expression. Taken together, our data describe an alternative molecular mechanism for melanocytic nevus formation that is congruent with both experimental and clinical observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S McNeal
- University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | | | - Hanlin Zeng
- Huntsman Cancer Inst.Salt Lake CityUnited States
| | | | | | - Rodrigo Torres
- University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | | | - A Hunter Shain
- University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Robert HI Andtbacka
- Huntsman Cancer Inst.Salt Lake CityUnited States
- University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Sheri Holmen
- Huntsman Cancer Inst.Salt Lake CityUnited States
- University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - David H Lum
- Huntsman Cancer Inst.Salt Lake CityUnited States
| | | | - Matt W VanBrocklin
- Huntsman Cancer Inst.Salt Lake CityUnited States
- University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Douglas Grossman
- Huntsman Cancer Inst.Salt Lake CityUnited States
- University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
| | - Maria L Wei
- University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Ursula E Lang
- University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Robert L Judson-Torres
- Huntsman Cancer Inst.Salt Lake CityUnited States
- University of UtahSalt Lake CityUnited States
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20
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Meierjohann S. Effect of stress-induced polyploidy on melanoma reprogramming and therapy resistance. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 81:232-240. [PMID: 33610722 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Melanomas and their precursors, the melanocytes, are frequently exposed to UV due to their anatomic location, leading to DNA damage and reactive oxygen stress related harm. Such damage can result in multinucleation or polyploidy, in particularly in presence of mitotic or cell division failure. As a consequence, the cell encounters either of two fates: mitotic catastrophe, resulting in cell death, or survival and recovery, the latter occurring less frequently. However, when cells manage to recover in an polyploid state, they have often acquired new features, which allow them to tolerate and adapt to oncogene- or therapy induced stress. This review focuses on polyploidy inducers in melanoma and their effects on transcriptional reprogramming and phenotypic adaptation as well as the relevance of polyploid melanoma cells for therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Meierjohann
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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21
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Schneckenreither G, Tschandl P, Rippinger C, Sinz C, Brunmeir D, Popper N, Kittler H. Reproduction of patterns in melanocytic proliferations by agent-based simulation and geometric modeling. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008660. [PMID: 33539342 PMCID: PMC7888658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatio-temporal patterns of melanocytic proliferations observed in vivo are important for diagnosis but the mechanisms that produce them are poorly understood. Here we present an agent-based model for simulating the emergence of the main biologic patterns found in melanocytic proliferations. Our model portrays the extracellular matrix of the dermo-epidermal junction as a two-dimensional manifold and we simulate cellular migration in terms of geometric translations driven by adhesive, repulsive and random forces. Abstracted cellular functions and melanocyte-matrix interactions are modeled as stochastic events. For identification and validation we use visual renderings of simulated cell populations in a horizontal perspective that reproduce growth patterns observed in vivo by sequential dermatoscopy and corresponding vertical views that reproduce the arrangement of melanocytes observed in histopathologic sections. Our results show that a balanced interplay of proliferation and migration produces the typical reticular pattern of nevi, whereas the globular pattern involves additional cellular mechanisms. We further demonstrate that slight variations in the three basic cellular properties proliferation, migration, and adhesion are sufficient to produce a large variety of morphological appearances of nevi. We anticipate our model to be a starting point for the reproduction of more complex scenarios that will help to establish functional connections between abstracted microscopic behavior and macroscopic patterns in all types of melanocytic proliferations including melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günter Schneckenreither
- Institute of Information Systems Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,Institute of Analysis and Scientific Computing, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,dwh simulation service, dwh GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Tschandl
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Christoph Sinz
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Nikolas Popper
- Institute of Information Systems Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,dwh simulation service, dwh GmbH, Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald Kittler
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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