1
|
Roger L, Miners KL, Leonard L, Grimstead JW, Price DA, Baird DM, Ladell K. T cell memory revisited using single telomere length analysis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1100535. [PMID: 37781376 PMCID: PMC10536158 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1100535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The fundamental basis of T cell memory remains elusive. It is established that antigen stimulation drives clonal proliferation and differentiation, but the relationship between cellular phenotype, replicative history, and longevity, which is likely essential for durable memory, has proven difficult to elucidate. To address these issues, we used conventional markers of differentiation to identify and isolate various subsets of CD8+ memory T cells and measured telomere lengths in these phenotypically defined populations using the most sensitive technique developed to date, namely single telomere length analysis (STELA). Naive cells were excluded on the basis of dual expression of CCR7 and CD45RA. Memory subsets were sorted as CD27+CD45RA+, CD27intCD45RA+, CD27-CD45RA+, CD27+CD45RAint, CD27-CD45RAint, CD27+CD45RA-, and CD27-CD45RA- at >98% purity. The shortest median telomere lengths were detected among subsets that lacked expression of CD45RA, and the longest median telomere lengths were detected among subsets that expressed CD45RA. Longer median telomere lengths were also a feature of subsets that expressed CD27 in compartments defined by the absence or presence of CD45RA. Collectively, these data suggested a disconnect between replicative history and CD8+ memory T cell differentiation, which is classically thought to be a linear process that culminates with revertant expression of CD45RA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laureline Roger
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Kelly L. Miners
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Leonard
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Julia W. Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Price
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan M. Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Kristin Ladell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Aquilanti E, Kageler L, Watson J, Baird DM, Jones RE, Hodges M, Szegletes ZM, Doench JG, Strathdee CA, Figueroa JRMF, Ligon KL, Beck M, Wen PY, Meyerson M. Telomerase inhibition is an effective therapeutic strategy in TERT promoter-mutant glioblastoma models with low tumor volume. Neuro Oncol 2023; 25:1275-1285. [PMID: 36694348 PMCID: PMC10326479 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma is one of the most lethal forms of cancer, with 5-year survival rates of only 6%. Glioblastoma-targeted therapeutics have been challenging to develop due to significant inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity. Telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (TERT) promoter mutations are the most common known clonal oncogenic mutations in glioblastoma. Telomerase is therefore considered to be a promising therapeutic target against this tumor. However, an important limitation of this strategy is that cell death does not occur immediately after telomerase ablation, but rather after several cell divisions required to reach critically short telomeres. We, therefore, hypothesize that telomerase inhibition would only be effective in glioblastomas with low tumor burden. METHODS We used CRISPR interference to knock down TERT expression in TERT promoter-mutant glioblastoma cell lines and patient-derived models. We then measured viability using serial proliferation assays. We also assessed for features of telomere crisis by measuring telomere length and chromatin bridge formation. Finally, we used a doxycycline-inducible CRISPR interference system to knock down TERT expression in vivo early and late in tumor development. RESULTS Upon TERT inactivation, glioblastoma cells lose their proliferative ability over time and exhibit telomere shortening and chromatin bridge formation. In vivo, survival is only prolonged when TERT knockdown is induced shortly after tumor implantation, but not when the tumor burden is high. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the idea that telomerase inhibition would be most effective at treating glioblastomas with low tumor burden, for example in the adjuvant setting after surgical debulking and chemoradiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Aquilanti
- Division of Neuro Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lauren Kageler
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jacqueline Watson
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Rhiannon E Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Marie Hodges
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Zsofia M Szegletes
- Genetic Perturbation Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John G Doench
- Genetic Perturbation Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Craig A Strathdee
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Keith L Ligon
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew Beck
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Patrick Y Wen
- Division of Neuro Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew Meyerson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Center for Cancer Genomics, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Genetics and Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Geiller HEB, Harvey A, Jones RE, Grimstead JW, Cleal K, Hendrickson EA, Baird DM. ATRX modulates the escape from a telomere crisis. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010485. [PMID: 36350851 PMCID: PMC9678338 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase activity is the principal telomere maintenance mechanism in human cancers, however 15% of cancers utilise a recombination-based mechanism referred to as alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) that leads to long and heterogenous telomere length distributions. Loss-of-function mutations in the Alpha Thalassemia/Mental Retardation Syndrome X-Linked (ATRX) gene are frequently found in ALT cancers. Here, we demonstrate that the loss of ATRX, coupled with telomere dysfunction during crisis, is sufficient to initiate activation of the ALT pathway and that it confers replicative immortality in human fibroblasts. Additionally, loss of ATRX combined with a telomere-driven crisis in HCT116 epithelial cancer cells led to the initiation of an ALT-like pathway. In these cells, a rapid and precise telomeric elongation and the induction of C-circles was observed; however, this process was transient and the telomeres ultimately continued to erode such that the cells either died or the escape from crisis was associated with telomerase activation. In both of these instances, telomere sequencing revealed that all alleles, irrespective of whether they were elongated, were enriched in variant repeat types, that appeared to be cell-line specific. Thus, our data show that the loss of ATRX combined with telomere dysfunction during crisis induces the ALT pathway in fibroblasts and enables a transient activation of ALT in epithelial cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helene E. B. Geiller
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Harvey
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Rhiannon E. Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Julia W. Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Kez Cleal
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Eric A. Hendrickson
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Duncan M. Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Parker C, Chambers AC, Flanagan DJ, Ho JWY, Collard TJ, Ngo G, Baird DM, Timms P, Morgan RG, Sansom OJ, Williams AC. BCL-3 loss sensitises colorectal cancer cells to DNA damage by targeting homologous recombination. DNA Repair (Amst) 2022; 115:103331. [PMID: 35468497 PMCID: PMC10618080 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2022.103331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The proto-oncogene BCL-3 is upregulated in a subset of colorectal cancers (CRC), where it has been shown to enhance tumour cell survival. However, although increased expression correlates with poor patient prognosis, the role of BCL-3 in determining therapeutic response remains largely unknown. In this study, we use combined approaches in multiple cell lines and pre-clinical mouse models to investigate the function of BCL-3 in the DNA damage response. We show that suppression of BCL-3 increases γH2AX foci formation and decreases homologous recombination in CRC cells, resulting in reduced RAD51 foci number and increased sensitivity to PARP inhibition. Importantly, a similar phenotype is seen in Bcl3-/- mice, where Bcl3-/- mouse crypts also exhibit sensitivity to DNA damage with increased γH2AX foci compared to wild type mice. Additionally, Apc.Kras-mutant x Bcl3-/- mice are more sensitive to cisplatin chemotherapy compared to wild type mice. Taken together, our results identify BCL-3 as a regulator of the cellular response to DNA damage and suggests that elevated BCL-3 expression, as observed in CRC, could increase resistance of tumour cells to DNA damaging agents including radiotherapy. These findings offer a rationale for targeting BCL-3 in CRC as an adjunct to conventional therapies and suggest that BCL-3 expression in tumours could be a useful biomarker in stratification of rectal cancer patients for neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Parker
- Colorectal Tumour Biology Group, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Adam C Chambers
- Colorectal Tumour Biology Group, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
| | - Dustin J Flanagan
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD UK; Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
| | - Jasmine Wing Yu Ho
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD UK
| | - Tracey J Collard
- Colorectal Tumour Biology Group, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Greg Ngo
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN UK
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN UK
| | - Penny Timms
- Colorectal Tumour Biology Group, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Rhys G Morgan
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Sussex House, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RH UK
| | - Owen J Sansom
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD UK
| | - Ann C Williams
- Colorectal Tumour Biology Group, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cleal K, Baird DM. Dysgu: efficient structural variant calling using short or long reads. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:e53. [PMID: 35100420 PMCID: PMC9122538 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural variation (SV) plays a fundamental role in genome evolution and can underlie inherited or acquired diseases such as cancer. Long-read sequencing technologies have led to improvements in the characterization of structural variants (SVs), although paired-end sequencing offers better scalability. Here, we present dysgu, which calls SVs or indels using paired-end or long reads. Dysgu detects signals from alignment gaps, discordant and supplementary mappings, and generates consensus contigs, before classifying events using machine learning. Additional SVs are identified by remapping of anomalous sequences. Dysgu outperforms existing state-of-the-art tools using paired-end or long-reads, offering high sensitivity and precision whilst being among the fastest tools to run. We find that combining low coverage paired-end and long-reads is competitive in terms of performance with long-reads at higher coverage values.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kez Cleal
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Pepper AGS, Zucchetto A, Norris K, Tissino E, Polesel J, Soe Z, Allsup D, Hockaday A, Ow PL, Hillmen P, Rawstron A, Catovsky D, Bulian P, Bomben R, Baird DM, Fegan CD, Gattei V, Pepper C. Combined analysis of IGHV mutations, telomere length and CD49d identifies long-term progression-free survivors in TP53 wild-type CLL treated with FCR-based therapies. Leukemia 2022; 36:271-274. [PMID: 34148055 PMCID: PMC8727296 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01322-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
MESH Headings
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
- Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis
- Cyclophosphamide/administration & dosage
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/genetics
- Immunoglobulin Variable Region/genetics
- Integrin alpha4/genetics
- Integrin alpha4/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/mortality
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Mutation
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/genetics
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/mortality
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology
- Prognosis
- Rituximab/administration & dosage
- Survival Rate
- Telomere Homeostasis
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics
- Vidarabine/administration & dosage
- Vidarabine/analogs & derivatives
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea G S Pepper
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Antonella Zucchetto
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Kevin Norris
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Erika Tissino
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Jerry Polesel
- Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Zarni Soe
- Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - David Allsup
- Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Hockaday
- Clinical Trials Research Unit, Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Pei Loo Ow
- Clinical Trials Research Unit, Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Hillmen
- Section of Experimental Haematology, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Rawstron
- Section of Experimental Haematology, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | | | - Pietro Bulian
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Riccardo Bomben
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher D Fegan
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Valter Gattei
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Chris Pepper
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Garcia-Martin I, Penketh RJA, Garay SM, Jones RE, Grimstead JW, Baird DM, John RM. Symptoms of Prenatal Depression Associated with Shorter Telomeres in Female Placenta. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7458. [PMID: 34299077 PMCID: PMC8306199 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a common mood disorder during pregnancy impacting one in every seven women. Children exposed to prenatal depression are more likely to be born at a low birth weight and develop chronic diseases later in life. A proposed hypothesis for this relationship between early exposure to adversity and poor outcomes is accelerated aging. Telomere length has been used as a biomarker of cellular aging. We used high-resolution telomere length analysis to examine the relationship between placental telomere length distributions and maternal mood symptoms in pregnancy. METHODS This study utilised samples from the longitudinal Grown in Wales (GiW) study. Women participating in this study were recruited at their presurgical appointment prior to a term elective caesarean section (ELCS). Women completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and trait subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Telomere length distributions were generated using single telomere length analysis (STELA) in 109 term placenta (37-42 weeks). Multiple linear regression was performed to examine the relationship between maternally reported symptoms of depression and anxiety at term and mean placental telomere length. RESULTS Prenatal depression symptoms were significantly negatively associated with XpYp telomere length in female placenta (B = -0.098, p = 0.026, 95% CI -0.184, -0.012). There was no association between maternal depression symptoms and telomere length in male placenta (B = 0.022, p = 0.586, 95% CI -0.059, 0.103). There was no association with anxiety symptoms and telomere length for either sex. CONCLUSION Maternal prenatal depression is associated with sex-specific differences in term placental telomeres. Telomere shortening in female placenta may indicate accelerated placental aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Garcia-Martin
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK; (I.G.-M.); (S.M.G.)
| | - Richard J. A. Penketh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK;
| | - Samantha M. Garay
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK; (I.G.-M.); (S.M.G.)
| | - Rhiannon E. Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK; (R.E.J.); (J.W.G.); (D.M.B.)
| | - Julia W. Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK; (R.E.J.); (J.W.G.); (D.M.B.)
| | - Duncan M. Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK; (R.E.J.); (J.W.G.); (D.M.B.)
| | - Rosalind M. John
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK; (I.G.-M.); (S.M.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
DNA-RNA hybrid structures have been detected at the vicinity of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) occurring within transcriptional active regions of the genome. The induction of DNA-RNA hybrids strongly affects the repair of these DSBs, but the nature of these structures and how they are formed remain poorly understood. Here we provide evidence that R loops, three-stranded structures containing DNA-RNA hybrids and the displaced single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) can form at sub-telomeric DSBs. These R loops are generated independently of DNA resection but are induced alongside two-stranded DNA-RNA hybrids that form on ssDNA generated by DNA resection. We further identified UPF1, an RNA/DNA helicase, as a crucial factor that drives the formation of these R loops and DNA-RNA hybrids to stimulate DNA resection, homologous recombination, microhomology-mediated end joining and DNA damage checkpoint activation. Our data show that R loops and DNA-RNA hybrids are actively generated at DSBs to facilitate DNA repair.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Greg H P Ngo
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Julia W Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Norris K, Walne AJ, Ponsford MJ, Cleal K, Grimstead JW, Ellison A, Alnajar J, Dokal I, Vulliamy T, Baird DM. High-throughput STELA provides a rapid test for the diagnosis of telomere biology disorders. Hum Genet 2021; 140:945-955. [PMID: 33709208 PMCID: PMC8099822 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-021-02257-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Telomere biology disorders are complex clinical conditions that arise due to mutations in genes required for telomere maintenance. Telomere length has been utilised as part of the diagnostic work-up of patients with these diseases; here, we have tested the utility of high-throughput STELA (HT-STELA) for this purpose. HT-STELA was applied to a cohort of unaffected individuals (n = 171) and a retrospective cohort of mutation carriers (n = 172). HT-STELA displayed a low measurement error with inter- and intra-assay coefficient of variance of 2.3% and 1.8%, respectively. Whilst telomere length in unaffected individuals declined as a function of age, telomere length in mutation carriers appeared to increase due to a preponderance of shorter telomeres detected in younger individuals (< 20 years of age). These individuals were more severely affected, and age-adjusted telomere length differentials could be used to stratify the cohort for overall survival (Hazard Ratio = 5.6 (1.5-20.5); p < 0.0001). Telomere lengths of asymptomatic mutation carriers were shorter than controls (p < 0.0001), but longer than symptomatic mutation carriers (p < 0.0001) and telomere length heterogeneity was dependent on the diagnosis and mutational status. Our data show that the ability of HT-STELA to detect short telomere lengths, that are not readily detected with other methods, means it can provide powerful diagnostic discrimination and prognostic information. The rapid format, with a low measurement error, demonstrates that HT-STELA is a new high-quality laboratory test for the clinical diagnosis of an underlying telomeropathy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Norris
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Amanda J Walne
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Mark J Ponsford
- Immunodeficiency Centre for Wales, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW, UK
- Division of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Kez Cleal
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Julia W Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Alicia Ellison
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Jenna Alnajar
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Inderjeet Dokal
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Tom Vulliamy
- Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK.
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Liddiard K, Grimstead JW, Cleal K, Evans A, Baird DM. Tracking telomere fusions through crisis reveals conflict between DNA transcription and the DNA damage response. NAR Cancer 2021; 3:zcaa044. [PMID: 33447828 PMCID: PMC7787266 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcaa044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying attributes that distinguish pre-malignant from senescent cells provides opportunities for targeted disease eradication and revival of anti-tumour immunity. We modelled a telomere-driven crisis in four human fibroblast lines, sampling at multiple time points to delineate genomic rearrangements and transcriptome developments that characterize the transition from dynamic proliferation into replicative crisis. Progression through crisis was associated with abundant intra-chromosomal telomere fusions with increasing asymmetry and reduced microhomology usage, suggesting shifts in DNA repair capacity. Eroded telomeres also fused with genomic loci actively engaged in transcription, with particular enrichment in long genes. Both gross copy number alterations and transcriptional responses to crisis likely underpin the elevated frequencies of telomere fusion with chromosomes 9, 16, 17, 19 and most exceptionally, chromosome 12. Juxtaposition of crisis-regulated genes with loci undergoing de novo recombination exposes the collusive contributions of cellular stress responses to the evolving cancer genome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate Liddiard
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Julia W Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Kez Cleal
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Anna Evans
- Wales Gene Park, Institute of Medical Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ahmed R, Miners KL, Lahoz-Beneytez J, Jones RE, Roger L, Baboonian C, Zhang Y, Wang ECY, Hellerstein MK, McCune JM, Baird DM, Price DA, Macallan DC, Asquith B, Ladell K. CD57 + Memory T Cells Proliferate In Vivo. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108501. [PMID: 33326780 PMCID: PMC7758161 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A central paradigm in the field of lymphocyte biology asserts that replicatively senescent memory T cells express the carbohydrate epitope CD57. These cells nonetheless accumulate with age and expand numerically in response to persistent antigenic stimulation. Here, we use in vivo deuterium labeling and ex vivo analyses of telomere length, telomerase activity, and intracellular expression of the cell-cycle marker Ki67 to distinguish between two non-exclusive scenarios: (1) CD57+ memory T cells do not proliferate and instead arise via phenotypic transition from the CD57- memory T cell pool; and/or (2) CD57+ memory T cells self-renew via intracompartmental proliferation. Our results provide compelling evidence in favor of the latter scenario and further suggest in conjunction with mathematical modeling that self-renewal is by far the most abundant source of newly generated CD57+ memory T cells. Immunological memory therefore appears to be intrinsically sustainable among highly differentiated subsets of T cells that express CD57.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raya Ahmed
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George's, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Kelly L Miners
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | | | - Rhiannon E Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Laureline Roger
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Christina Baboonian
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George's, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Yan Zhang
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George's, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Eddie C Y Wang
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Marc K Hellerstein
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Joseph M McCune
- HIV Frontiers Program, Global Health Innovative Technology Solutions, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - David A Price
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
| | - Derek C Macallan
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George's, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK; St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London SW17 0QT, UK.
| | - Becca Asquith
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK.
| | - Kristin Ladell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; Neonatal Unit, Singleton Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health Board, Swansea SA2 8QA, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Galletti G, De Simone G, Mazza EMC, Puccio S, Mezzanotte C, Bi TM, Davydov AN, Metsger M, Scamardella E, Alvisi G, De Paoli F, Zanon V, Scarpa A, Camisa B, Colombo FS, Anselmo A, Peano C, Polletti S, Mavilio D, Gattinoni L, Boi SK, Youngblood BA, Jones RE, Baird DM, Gostick E, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Ladell K, Price DA, Chudakov DM, Newell EW, Casucci M, Lugli E. Two subsets of stem-like CD8 + memory T cell progenitors with distinct fate commitments in humans. Nat Immunol 2020; 21:1552-1562. [PMID: 33046887 PMCID: PMC7610790 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-020-0791-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
T cell memory relies on the generation of antigen-specific progenitors with stem-like properties. However, the identity of these progenitors has remained unclear, precluding a full understanding of the differentiation trajectories that underpin the heterogeneity of antigen-experienced T cells. We used a systematic approach guided by single-cell RNA-sequencing data to map the organizational structure of the human CD8+ memory T cell pool under physiological conditions. We identified two previously unrecognized subsets of clonally, epigenetically, functionally, phenotypically and transcriptionally distinct stem-like CD8+ memory T cells. Progenitors lacking the inhibitory receptors programmed death-1 (PD-1) and T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT) were committed to a functional lineage, whereas progenitors expressing PD-1 and TIGIT were committed to a dysfunctional, exhausted-like lineage. Collectively, these data reveal the existence of parallel differentiation programs in the human CD8+ memory T cell pool, with potentially broad implications for the development of immunotherapies and vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Galletti
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriele De Simone
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Emilia M C Mazza
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Puccio
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Mezzanotte
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Timothy M Bi
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Maria Metsger
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eloise Scamardella
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgia Alvisi
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica De Paoli
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Zanon
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Scarpa
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Camisa
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico S Colombo
- Humanitas Flow Cytometry Core, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Achille Anselmo
- Humanitas Flow Cytometry Core, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Clelia Peano
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, UoS Milan, National Research Council, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Genomic Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Polletti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Domenico Mavilio
- Unit of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Gattinoni
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology, Regensburg, Germany
- University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Shannon K Boi
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Rhiannon E Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
| | - Emma Gostick
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sian Llewellyn-Lacey
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
| | - Kristin Ladell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
| | - David A Price
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
| | - Dmitriy M Chudakov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
- Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Evan W Newell
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Monica Casucci
- Innovative Immunotherapies Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico Lugli
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
- Humanitas Flow Cytometry Core, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Adishesh M, Alnafakh R, Baird DM, Jones RE, Simon S, Button L, Kamal AM, Kirwan J, DeCruze SB, Drury J, Saretzki G, Hapangama DK. Human Endometrial Carcinogenesis Is Associated with Significant Reduction in Long Non-Coding RNA, TERRA. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E8686. [PMID: 33217925 PMCID: PMC7698627 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are transcribed as long non-coding RNAs called TERRAs (Telomeric repeat containing RNA) that participate in a variety of cellular regulatory functions. High telomerase activity (TA) is associated with endometrial cancer (EC). This study aimed to examine the levels of three TERRAs, transcribed at chromosomes 1q-2q-4q-10q-13q-22q, 16p and 20q in healthy (n = 23) and pathological (n = 24) human endometrium and to examine their association with cellular proliferation, TA and telomere lengths. EC samples demonstrated significantly reduced levels of TERRAs for Chromosome 16p (Ch-16p) (p < 0.002) and Chromosome 20q (Ch-20q) (p = 0.0006), when compared with the postmenopausal samples. No significant correlation was found between TERRA levels and TA but both Ch-16p and Ch-20q TERRA levels negatively correlated with the proliferative marker Ki67 (r = -0.35, p = 0.03 and r = -0.42, p = 0.01 respectively). Evaluation of single telomere length analysis (STELA) at XpYp telomeres demonstrated a significant shortening in EC samples when compared with healthy tissues (p = 0.002). We detected TERRAs in healthy human endometrium and observed altered individual TERRA-specific levels in malignant endometrium. The negative correlation of TERRAs with cellular proliferation along with their significant reduction in EC may suggest a role for TERRAs in carcinogenesis and thus future research should explore TERRAs as potential therapeutic targets in EC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meera Adishesh
- Liverpool Women’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (M.A.); (J.K.); (S.B.D.)
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (R.A.); (S.S.); (L.B.); (A.M.K.); (J.D.)
| | - Rafah Alnafakh
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (R.A.); (S.S.); (L.B.); (A.M.K.); (J.D.)
| | - Duncan M. Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; (D.M.B.); (R.E.J.)
| | - Rhiannon E. Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; (D.M.B.); (R.E.J.)
| | - Shannon Simon
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (R.A.); (S.S.); (L.B.); (A.M.K.); (J.D.)
| | - Lucy Button
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (R.A.); (S.S.); (L.B.); (A.M.K.); (J.D.)
| | - Areege M. Kamal
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (R.A.); (S.S.); (L.B.); (A.M.K.); (J.D.)
- The National Centre for Early Detection of Cancer, Oncology Teaching Hospital, Baghdad Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - John Kirwan
- Liverpool Women’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (M.A.); (J.K.); (S.B.D.)
| | - S. Bridget DeCruze
- Liverpool Women’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (M.A.); (J.K.); (S.B.D.)
| | - Josephine Drury
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (R.A.); (S.S.); (L.B.); (A.M.K.); (J.D.)
| | - Gabriele Saretzki
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL, UK;
| | - Dharani K. Hapangama
- Liverpool Women’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (M.A.); (J.K.); (S.B.D.)
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (R.A.); (S.S.); (L.B.); (A.M.K.); (J.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Cleal K, Baird DM. Catastrophic Endgames: Emerging Mechanisms of Telomere-Driven Genomic Instability. Trends Genet 2020; 36:347-359. [PMID: 32294415 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2020.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
When cells progress to malignancy, they must overcome a final telomere-mediated proliferative lifespan barrier called replicative crisis. Crisis is characterized by extensive telomere fusion that drives widespread genomic instability, mitotic arrest, hyperactivation of autophagy, and cell death. Recently, it has become apparent that that the resolution of dicentric chromosomes, which arise from telomere fusions during crisis, can initiate a sequence of events that leads to chromothripsis, a form of extreme genomic catastrophe. Chromothripsis is characterized by localized genomic regions containing tens to thousands of rearrangements and it is becoming increasingly apparent that chromothripsis occurs widely across tumor types and has a clinical impact. Here we discuss how telomere dysfunction can initiate genomic complexity and the emerging mechanisms of chromothripsis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kez Cleal
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kwok M, Oldreive C, Rawstron AC, Goel A, Papatzikas G, Jones RE, Drennan S, Agathanggelou A, Sharma-Oates A, Evans P, Smith E, Dalal S, Mao J, Hollows R, Gordon N, Hamada M, Davies NJ, Parry H, Beggs AD, Munir T, Moreton P, Paneesha S, Pratt G, Taylor AMR, Forconi F, Baird DM, Cazier JB, Moss P, Hillmen P, Stankovic T. Integrative analysis of spontaneous CLL regression highlights genetic and microenvironmental interdependency in CLL. Blood 2020; 135:411-428. [PMID: 31794600 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019001262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous regression is a recognized phenomenon in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) but its biological basis remains unknown. We undertook a detailed investigation of the biological and clinical features of 20 spontaneous CLL regression cases incorporating phenotypic, functional, transcriptomic, and genomic studies at sequential time points. All spontaneously regressed tumors were IGHV-mutated with no restricted IGHV usage or B-cell receptor (BCR) stereotypy. They exhibited shortened telomeres similar to nonregressing CLL, indicating prior proliferation. They also displayed low Ki-67, CD49d, cell-surface immunoglobulin M (IgM) expression and IgM-signaling response but high CXCR4 expression, indicating low proliferative activity associated with poor migration to proliferation centers, with these features becoming increasingly marked during regression. Spontaneously regressed CLL displayed a transcriptome profile characterized by downregulation of metabolic processes as well as MYC and its downstream targets compared with nonregressing CLL. Moreover, spontaneous regression was associated with reversal of T-cell exhaustion features including reduced programmed cell death 1 expression and increased T-cell proliferation. Interestingly, archetypal CLL genomic aberrations including HIST1H1B and TP53 mutations and del(13q14) were found in some spontaneously regressing tumors, but genetic composition remained stable during regression. Conversely, a single case of CLL relapse following spontaneous regression was associated with increased BCR signaling, CLL proliferation, and clonal evolution. These observations indicate that spontaneously regressing CLL appear to undergo a period of proliferation before entering a more quiescent state, and that a complex interaction between genomic alterations and the microenvironment determines disease course. Together, the findings provide novel insight into the biological processes underpinning spontaneous CLL regression, with implications for CLL treatment.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Cell Proliferation
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/genetics
- Immunoglobulin M/genetics
- Ki-67 Antigen/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/genetics
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mutation
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
- Receptors, CXCR4/genetics
- Tumor Microenvironment
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marwan Kwok
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Clinical Haematology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Ceri Oldreive
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andy C Rawstron
- Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Anshita Goel
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Computational Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Grigorios Papatzikas
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Computational Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rhiannon E Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Samantha Drennan
- Cancer Sciences Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Angelo Agathanggelou
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Archana Sharma-Oates
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Computational Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Evans
- Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Edward Smith
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Surita Dalal
- Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Jingwen Mao
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Hollows
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Naheema Gordon
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Mayumi Hamada
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J Davies
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Helen Parry
- Centre for Clinical Haematology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D Beggs
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Talha Munir
- Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Moreton
- Department of Haematology, Pinderfields General Hospital, Wakefield, United Kingdom
| | - Shankara Paneesha
- Department of Haematology, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom; and
| | - Guy Pratt
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Clinical Haematology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - A Malcolm R Taylor
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Forconi
- Cancer Sciences Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-Baptiste Cazier
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Computational Biology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Moss
- Centre for Clinical Haematology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Hillmen
- Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Section of Experimental Haematology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Tatjana Stankovic
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Harrington L, Baird DM. Editorial overview: The instability of the cancer genome: it starts at the end. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2020; 60:iii-vi. [PMID: 32241622 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2020.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lea Harrington
- Department of Medicine, and Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1J4, Canada.
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Norris K, Hillmen P, Rawstron A, Hills R, Baird DM, Fegan CD, Pepper C. Telomere length predicts for outcome to FCR chemotherapy in CLL. Leukemia 2019; 33:1953-1963. [PMID: 30700843 PMCID: PMC6756045 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-019-0389-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We have previously shown that dividing patients with CLL into those with telomeres inside the fusogenic range (TL-IFR) and outside the fusogenic range (TL-OFR) is powerful prognostic tool. Here, we used a high-throughput version of the assay (HT-STELA) to establish whether telomere length could predict for outcome to fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, rituximab (FCR)-based treatment using samples collected from two concurrent phase II studies, ARCTIC and ADMIRE (n = 260). In univariate analysis, patients with TL-IFR had reduced progression-free survival (PFS) (P < 0.0001; HR = 2.17) and shorter overall survival (OS) (P = 0.0002; HR = 2.44). Bifurcation of the IGHV-mutated and unmutated subsets according to telomere length revealed that patients with TL-IFR in each subset had shorter PFS (HR = 4.35 and HR = 1.48, respectively) and shorter OS (HR = 3.81 and HR = 2.18, respectively). In addition, the OS of the TL-OFR and TL-IFR subsets were not significantly altered by IGHV mutation status (P = 0.61; HR = 1.24 and P = 0.41; HR = 1.47, respectively). In multivariate modeling, telomere length was the dominant co-variable for PFS (P = 0.0002; HR = 1.85) and OS (P = 0.05; HR = 1.61). Taken together, our data suggest that HT-STELA is a powerful predictor of outcome to FCR-based treatment and could be used to inform the design of future risk-adapted clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Norris
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - Peter Hillmen
- Section of Experimental Haematology, Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology (LICAP), University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Andrew Rawstron
- Section of Experimental Haematology, Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology (LICAP), University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Robert Hills
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7LF, USA
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - Christopher D Fegan
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK
| | - Chris Pepper
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
- University of Sussex, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Escudero L, Cleal K, Ashelford K, Fegan C, Pepper C, Liddiard K, Baird DM. Telomere fusions associate with coding sequence and copy number alterations in CLL. Leukemia 2019; 33:2093-2097. [PMID: 30796307 PMCID: PMC6690834 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-019-0423-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Escudero
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Kez Cleal
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Kevin Ashelford
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Chris Fegan
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Chris Pepper
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Sussex University, Brighton, UK
| | - Kate Liddiard
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Cleal K, Jones RE, Grimstead JW, Hendrickson EA, Baird DM. Chromothripsis during telomere crisis is independent of NHEJ, and consistent with a replicative origin. Genome Res 2019; 29:737-749. [PMID: 30872351 PMCID: PMC6499312 DOI: 10.1101/gr.240705.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Telomere erosion, dysfunction, and fusion can lead to a state of cellular crisis characterized by large-scale genome instability. We investigated the impact of a telomere-driven crisis on the structural integrity of the genome by undertaking whole-genome sequence analyses of clonal populations of cells that had escaped crisis. Quantification of large-scale structural variants revealed patterns of rearrangement consistent with chromothripsis but formed in the absence of functional nonhomologous end-joining pathways. Rearrangements frequently consisted of short fragments with complex mutational patterns, with a repair topology that deviated from randomness showing preferential repair to local regions or exchange between specific loci. We find evidence of telomere involvement with an enrichment of fold-back inversions demarcating clusters of rearrangements. Our data suggest that chromothriptic rearrangements caused by a telomere crisis arise via a replicative repair process involving template switching.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kez Cleal
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Rhiannon E Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Julia W Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Eric A Hendrickson
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Liddiard K, Ruis B, Kan Y, Cleal K, Ashelford KE, Hendrickson EA, Baird DM. DNA Ligase 1 is an essential mediator of sister chromatid telomere fusions in G2 cell cycle phase. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:2402-2424. [PMID: 30590694 PMCID: PMC6411840 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky1279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusion of critically short or damaged telomeres is associated with the genomic rearrangements that support malignant transformation. We have demonstrated the fundamental contribution of DNA ligase 4-dependent classical non-homologous end-joining to long-range inter-chromosomal telomere fusions. In contrast, localized genomic recombinations initiated by sister chromatid fusion are predominantly mediated by alternative non-homologous end-joining activity that may employ either DNA ligase 3 or DNA ligase 1. In this study, we sought to discriminate the relative involvement of these ligases in sister chromatid telomere fusion through a precise genetic dissociation of functional activity. We have resolved an essential and non-redundant role for DNA ligase 1 in the fusion of sister chromatids bearing targeted double strand DNA breaks that is entirely uncoupled from its requisite engagement in DNA replication. Importantly, this fusogenic repair occurs in cells fully proficient for non-homologous end-joining and is not compensated by DNA ligases 3 or 4. The dual functions of DNA ligase 1 in replication and non-homologous end-joining uniquely position and capacitate this ligase for DNA repair at stalled replication forks, facilitating mitotic progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate Liddiard
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Brian Ruis
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Yinan Kan
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kez Cleal
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Kevin E Ashelford
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Eric A Hendrickson
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Pringle S, Wang X, Verstappen GMPJ, Terpstra JH, Zhang CK, He A, Patel V, Jones RE, Baird DM, Spijkervet FKL, Vissink A, Bootsma H, Coppes RP, Kroese FGM. Salivary Gland Stem Cells Age Prematurely in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome. Arthritis Rheumatol 2019; 71:133-142. [PMID: 29984480 PMCID: PMC6607019 DOI: 10.1002/art.40659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A major characteristic of the autoimmune disease primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is salivary gland (SG) hypofunction. The inability of resident SG stem cells (SGSCs) to maintain homeostasis and saliva production has never been explained and limits our comprehension of mechanisms underlying primary SS. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of salivary gland stem cells in hyposalivation in primary SS. METHODS SGSCs were isolated from parotid biopsy samples from controls and patients classified as having primary SS or incomplete primary SS, according to the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria. Self-renewal and differentiation assays were used to determine SGSC regenerative potential, RNA was extracted for sequencing analysis, single telomere length analysis was conducted to determine telomere length, and frozen tissue samples were used for immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS SGSCs isolated from primary SS parotid gland biopsy samples were regeneratively inferior to healthy control specimens. We demonstrated that SGSCs from samples from patients with primary SS are not only lower in number and less able to differentiate, but are likely to be senescent, as revealed by telomere length analysis, RNA sequencing, and immunostaining. We further found that SGSCs exposed to primary SS-associated proinflammatory cytokines we induced to proliferate, express senescence-associated genes, and subsequently differentiate into intercalated duct cells. We also localized p16+ senescent cells to the intercalated ducts in primary SS SG tissue, suggesting a block in SGSC differentiation into acinar cells. CONCLUSION This study represents the first characterization of SGSCs in primary SS, and also the first demonstration of a linkage between an autoimmune disease and a parenchymal premature-aging phenotype. The knowledge garnered in this study indicates that disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs used to treat primary SS are not likely to restore saliva production, and should be supplemented with fresh SGSCs to recover saliva production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Pringle
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Janneke H Terpstra
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Aiqing He
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pennington, New Jersey
| | | | | | | | - Fred K L Spijkervet
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Arjan Vissink
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrika Bootsma
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Robert P Coppes
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Frans G M Kroese
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Garcia-Martin I, Penketh RJA, Janssen AB, Jones RE, Grimstead J, Baird DM, John RM. Metformin and insulin treatment prevent placental telomere attrition in boys exposed to maternal diabetes. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0208533. [PMID: 30533028 PMCID: PMC6289439 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Shortened leukocyte and placental telomeres associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) suggest this exposure triggers telomere attrition contributing to adverse outcomes. We applied high resolution Single Telomere Length Analysis (STELA) to placenta from GDM pregnancies with different treatment pathways to determine their effectiveness at preventing telomere attrition. Differences in telomere length between control (N = 69), GDM lifestyle intervention (n = 14) and GDM treated with metformin and/or insulin (n = 17) was tested by Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) followed by group comparisons using Fisher's least significant difference. For male placenta only, there were differences in mean telomere length (F(2,54) = 4.98, P = 0.01) and percentage of telomeres under 5 kb (F(2,54) = 4.65, P = 0.01). Telomeres were shorter in the GDM lifestyle intervention group compared to both controls (P = 0.02) and medically treated pregnancies (P = 0.003). There were more telomeres under 5 kb in the GDM lifestyle intervention group compared to the other two groups (P = 0.03 and P = 0.004). Although further work is necessary, we suggest that early adoption of targeted medical treatment of GDM pregnancies where the fetus is known to be male may be an effective strategy for ameliorating adverse outcomes for children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Garcia-Martin
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. A. Penketh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Anna B. Janssen
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Rhiannon E. Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan M. Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Rosalind M. John
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Harvey A, Mielke N, Grimstead JW, Jones RE, Nguyen T, Mueller M, Baird DM, Hendrickson EA. PARP1 is required for preserving telomeric integrity but is dispensable for A-NHEJ. Oncotarget 2018; 9:34821-34837. [PMID: 30410680 PMCID: PMC6205175 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.26201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Poly-ADP ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1) is clinically important because of its synthetic lethality with breast cancer allele 1 and 2 mutations, which are causative for inherited breast and ovarian cancers. Biochemically, PARP1 is a single-stranded DNA break repair protein that is needed for preserving genomic integrity. In addition, PARP1 has been implicated in a veritable plethora of additional cellular pathways and thus its precise contribution(s) to human biology has remained obscure. To help address this deficiency, we utilized gene editing to construct genetically-null PARP1 human cancer cells. We found a minor role for PARP1 in an alternative form of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, but only when these cells were deficient for the classical form of DSB repair. Despite being proficient for DSB repair, however, cell cycle progression defects and elevated endogenous DNA damage signaling were observed. These deficiencies were instead linked to telomere defects, where PARP1 -/- cells had short telomeres that co-localized with markers of endogenous DNA damage and were compromised in their ability to escape a telomere-driven crisis. Our data suggest that while PARP1 does not participate significantly in DNA DSB repair itself, it does prevent the incidence of telomeric DSBs, which, in turn, can drive genomic instability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Harvey
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Nicholas Mielke
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Julia W. Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Rhiannon E. Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Thanh Nguyen
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Matthew Mueller
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Duncan M. Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Eric A. Hendrickson
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Pilsworth JA, Cochrane DR, Xia Z, Aubert G, Färkkilä AEM, Horlings HM, Yanagida S, Yang W, Lim JLP, Wang Y, Bashashati A, Keul J, Wong A, Oliva E, Shah SP, Kommoss S, Kommoss F, Lansdorp PM, Baird DM, Huntsman DG. Abstract PR13: TERT is frequently mutated in adult-type granulosa cell tumors of the ovary compared to other malignant sex cord-stromal tumors. Clin Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1557-3265.ovca17-pr13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene is highly expressed in stem cells and silenced upon differentiation. Cancer cells can attain immortality by activating TERT to maintain telomere length and telomerase activity, a crucial step of tumorigenesis. Two somatic mutations in the TERT promoter (C228T; C250T) have been identified in multiple cancers, such as melanoma and glioblastoma, as gain-of-function mutations that promote transcriptional activation of TERT. A recent study investigating TERT promoter mutations in ovarian carcinomas found mutations in 15% of clear cell carcinomas. However, it is unknown whether these mutations are prevalent in adult-type granulosa cell tumors (AGCTs) of the ovary, Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCTs), and other malignant sex cord-stromal tumors.
We performed whole-genome sequencing on ten AGCT cases with matched normal and identified the TERT C228T promoter mutation in 50% of cases. We found that AGCT cases with mutated TERT promoter have increased expression of TERT mRNA compared to those with wild-type TERT promoter. All five TERT promoter mutated cases had high levels of TERT mRNA expression, whereas three of the five wild-type TERT cases had no measurable TERT mRNA expression. There was a tendency towards longer telomere lengths in AGCT cases with the TERT promoter mutation relative to those without, although it was not statistically significant. These results suggest that telomerase may be activated by a different method in the cases with no TERT promoter mutations but have TERT mRNA expression. The remaining cases with neither TERT promoter mutations nor TERT mRNA expression likely maintain their telomeres using a telomerase-independent method, such as the alternative lengthening of telomeres pathway. TERT C228T allelic discrimination analysis of 331 AGCTs, 5 SLCTs, and 18 other malignant sex cord-stromal tumors detected the mutation in 56/247 (23%) of primary AGCTs, 22/84 (26%) of recurrent AGCTs, 1/5 (20%) of SLCTs and (0/18) 0% of other malignant sex cord-stromal tumors. The single SLCT case with the TERT promoter mutation was poorly differentiated and harbored the pathognomonic FOXL2 mutation of AGCT, suggesting this SLCT case may actually be an AGCT. In 204 AGCT cases with available survival data, there was a trend towards worse disease-specific survival in patients with the TERT promoter mutation compared to those without; however, statistical significance was not reached (p = 0.128, log-ranked test). In 5 AGCT cases with primary and recurrent tissues, we found that the TERT promoter mutation was absent in the primary tumors but present in the recurrent tumors, suggesting that TERT C228T mutation may play an active role in progression of AGCTs.
Overall, we found that TERT C228T promoter mutation was most common in AGCTs among the different malignant sex cord-stromal tumors. Our data confirm the activation of telomerase in AGCTs via TERT C228T promoter mutation, although alternative telomerase activation methods in AGCTs may exist. Our results suggest that TERT activation may play a role in AGCT recurrence. As such, telomere biology may be important for the progression of AGCTs.
This abstract is also being presented as Poster B54.
Citation Format: Jessica A. Pilsworth, Dawn R. Cochrane, Zhouchunyang Xia, Geraldine Aubert, Anniina E. M. Färkkilä, Hugo M. Horlings, Satoshi Yanagida, Winnie Yang, Jamie L. P. Lim, Yikan Wang, Ali Bashashati, Jacqueline Keul, Adele Wong, Esther Oliva, Sohrab P. Shah, Stefan Kommoss, Friedrich Kommoss, Peter M. Lansdorp, Duncan M. Baird, David G. Huntsman. TERT is frequently mutated in adult-type granulosa cell tumors of the ovary compared to other malignant sex cord-stromal tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Conference: Addressing Critical Questions in Ovarian Cancer Research and Treatment; Oct 1-4, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2018;24(15_Suppl):Abstract nr PR13.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yikan Wang
- 2BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada,
| | | | | | - Adele Wong
- 5Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Pilsworth JA, Cochrane DR, Xia Z, Aubert G, Färkkilä AEM, Horlings HM, Yanagida S, Yang W, Lim JLP, Wang YK, Bashashati A, Keul J, Wong A, Norris K, Brucker SY, Taran FA, Krämer B, Staebler A, van Meurs H, Oliva E, Shah SP, Kommoss S, Kommoss F, Gilks CB, Baird DM, Huntsman DG. TERT promoter mutation in adult granulosa cell tumor of the ovary. Mod Pathol 2018; 31:1107-1115. [PMID: 29449679 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-018-0007-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene is highly expressed in stem cells and silenced upon differentiation. Cancer cells can attain immortality by activating TERT to maintain telomere length and telomerase activity, which is a crucial step of tumorigenesis. Two somatic mutations in the TERT promoter (C228T; C250T) have been identified as gain-of-function mutations that promote transcriptional activation of TERT in multiple cancers, such as melanoma and glioblastoma. A recent study investigating TERT promoter mutations in ovarian carcinomas found C228T and C250T mutations in 15.9% of clear cell carcinomas. However, it is unknown whether these mutations are frequent in other ovarian cancer subtypes, in particular, sex cord-stromal tumors including adult granulosa cell tumors. We performed whole-genome sequencing on ten adult granulosa cell tumors with matched normal blood and identified a TERT C228T promoter mutation in 50% of tumors. We found that adult granulosa cell tumors with mutated TERT promoter have increased expression of TERT mRNA and exhibited significantly longer telomeres compared to those with wild-type TERT promoter. Extension cohort analysis using allelic discrimination revealed the TERT C228T mutation in 51 of 229 primary adult granulosa cell tumors (22%), 24 of 58 recurrent adult granulosa cell tumors (41%), and 1 of 22 other sex cord-stromal tumors (5%). There was a significant difference in overall survival between patients with TERT C228T promoter mutation in the primary tumors and those without it (p = 0.00253, log-rank test). In seven adult granulosa cell tumors, we found the TERT C228T mutation present in recurrent tumors and absent in the corresponding primary tumor. Our data suggest that TERT C228T promoter mutations may have an important role in progression of adult granulosa cell tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Pilsworth
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Dawn R Cochrane
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Zhouchunyang Xia
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Geraldine Aubert
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Anniina E M Färkkilä
- Children's Hospital and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hugo M Horlings
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Satoshi Yanagida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Winnie Yang
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jamie L P Lim
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Yi Kan Wang
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ali Bashashati
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Keul
- Department of Women's Health, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Adele Wong
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kevin Norris
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sara Y Brucker
- Department of Women's Health, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Florin-Andrei Taran
- Department of Women's Health, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bernhard Krämer
- Department of Women's Health, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Annette Staebler
- Tübingen University Hospital, Institute of Pathology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hannah van Meurs
- Department of Gynecology, Center for Gynecologic Oncology Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esther Oliva
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sohrab P Shah
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Computer Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stefan Kommoss
- Department of Women's Health, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - C Blake Gilks
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - David G Huntsman
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Nelson ND, Dodson LM, Escudero L, Sukumar AT, Williams CL, Mihalek I, Baldan A, Baird DM, Bertuch AA. The C-Terminal Extension Unique to the Long Isoform of the Shelterin Component TIN2 Enhances Its Interaction with TRF2 in a Phosphorylation- and Dyskeratosis Congenita Cluster-Dependent Fashion. Mol Cell Biol 2018; 38:e00025-18. [PMID: 29581185 PMCID: PMC5974431 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00025-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
TIN2 is central to the shelterin complex, linking the telomeric proteins TRF1 and TRF2 with TPP1/POT1. Mutations in TINF2, which encodes TIN2, that are found in dyskeratosis congenita (DC) result in very short telomeres and cluster in a region shared by the two TIN2 isoforms, TIN2S (short) and TIN2L (long). Here we show that TIN2L, but not TIN2S, is phosphorylated. TRF2 interacts more with TIN2L than TIN2S, and both the DC cluster and phosphorylation promote this enhanced interaction. The binding of TIN2L, but not TIN2S, is affected by TRF2-F120, which is also required for TRF2's interaction with end processing factors such as Apollo. Conversely, TRF1 interacts more with TIN2S than with TIN2L. A DC-associated mutation further reduces TIN2L-TRF1, but not TIN2S-TRF1, interaction. Cells overexpressing TIN2L or phosphomimetic TIN2L are permissive to telomere elongation, whereas cells overexpressing TIN2S or phosphodead TIN2L are not. Telomere lengths are unchanged in cell lines in which TIN2L expression has been eliminated by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9-mediated mutation. These results indicate that TIN2 isoforms are biochemically and functionally distinguishable and that shelterin composition could be fundamentally altered in patients with TINF2 mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nya D Nelson
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Lois M Dodson
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Laura Escudero
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Ann T Sukumar
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Christopher L Williams
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ivana Mihalek
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alessandro Baldan
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Alison A Bertuch
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Costa del Amo P, Lahoz-Beneytez J, Boelen L, Ahmed R, Miners KL, Zhang Y, Roger L, Jones RE, Marraco SAF, Speiser DE, Baird DM, Price DA, Ladell K, Macallan D, Asquith B. Human TSCM cell dynamics in vivo are compatible with long-lived immunological memory and stemness. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2005523. [PMID: 29933397 PMCID: PMC6033534 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptive immunity relies on the generation and maintenance of memory T cells to provide protection against repeated antigen exposure. It has been hypothesised that a self-renewing population of T cells, named stem cell-like memory T (TSCM) cells, are responsible for maintaining memory. However, it is not clear if the dynamics of TSCM cells in vivo are compatible with this hypothesis. To address this issue, we investigated the dynamics of TSCM cells under physiological conditions in humans in vivo using a multidisciplinary approach that combines mathematical modelling, stable isotope labelling, telomere length analysis, and cross-sectional data from vaccine recipients. We show that, unexpectedly, the average longevity of a TSCM clone is very short (half-life < 1 year, degree of self-renewal = 430 days): far too short to constitute a stem cell population. However, we also find that the TSCM population is comprised of at least 2 kinetically distinct subpopulations that turn over at different rates. Whilst one subpopulation is rapidly replaced (half-life = 5 months) and explains the rapid average turnover of the bulk TSCM population, the half-life of the other TSCM subpopulation is approximately 9 years, consistent with the longevity of the recall response. We also show that this latter population exhibited a high degree of self-renewal, with a cell residing without dying or differentiating for 15% of our lifetime. Finally, although small, the population was not subject to excessive stochasticity. We conclude that the majority of TSCM cells are not stem cell-like but that there is a subpopulation of TSCM cells whose dynamics are compatible with their putative role in the maintenance of T cell memory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lies Boelen
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Raya Ahmed
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kelly L. Miners
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Yan Zhang
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laureline Roger
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Rhiannon E. Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | | | - Daniel E. Speiser
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Duncan M. Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Price
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Kristin Ladell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Derek Macallan
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George’s, University of London, London, United Kingdom
- St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Becca Asquith
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Abstract
The terminal regions of eukaryotic chromosomes, composed of telomere repeat sequences and sub-telomeric sequences, represent some of the most variable and rapidly evolving regions of the genome. The sub-telomeric regions are characterized by segmentally duplicated repetitive DNA elements, interstitial telomere repeat sequences and families of variable genes. Sub-telomeric repeat sequence families are shared among multiple chromosome ends, often rendering detailed sequence characterization difficult. These regions are composed of constitutive heterochromatin and are subjected to high levels of meiotic recombination. Dysfunction within telomere repeat arrays, either due to disruption in the chromatin structure or because of telomere shortening, can lead to chromosomal fusion and the generation of large-scale genomic rearrangements across the genome. The dynamic nature of telomeric regions, therefore, provides functionally useful variation to create genetic diversity, but also provides a mechanism for rapid genomic evolution that can lead to reproductive isolation and speciation. This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics'.This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
McCully ML, Ladell K, Andrews R, Jones RE, Miners KL, Roger L, Baird DM, Cameron MJ, Jessop ZM, Whitaker IS, Davies EL, Price DA, Moser B. CCR8 Expression Defines Tissue-Resident Memory T Cells in Human Skin. J Immunol 2018; 200:1639-1650. [PMID: 29427415 PMCID: PMC5818732 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Human skin harbors two major T cell compartments of equal size that are distinguished by expression of the chemokine receptor CCR8. In vitro studies have demonstrated that CCR8 expression is regulated by TCR engagement and the skin tissue microenvironment. To extend these observations, we examined the relationship between CCR8+ and CCR8- skin T cells in vivo. Phenotypic, functional, and transcriptomic analyses revealed that CCR8+ skin T cells bear all the hallmarks of resident memory T cells, including homeostatic proliferation in response to IL-7 and IL-15, surface expression of tissue localization (CD103) and retention (CD69) markers, low levels of inhibitory receptors (programmed cell death protein 1, Tim-3, LAG-3), and a lack of senescence markers (CD57, killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily G member 1). In contrast, CCR8- skin T cells are heterogeneous and comprise variable numbers of exhausted (programmed cell death protein 1+), senescent (CD57+, killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily G member 1+), and effector (T-bethi, Eomeshi) T cells. Importantly, conventional and high-throughput sequencing of expressed TCR β-chain (TRB) gene rearrangements showed that these CCR8-defined populations are clonotypically distinct, suggesting unique ontogenies in response to separate antigenic challenges and/or stimulatory conditions. Moreover, CCR8+ and CCR8- skin T cells were phenotypically stable in vitro and displayed similar levels of telomere erosion, further supporting the likelihood of a nonlinear differentiation pathway. On the basis of these results, we propose that long-lived memory T cells in human skin can be defined by the expression of CCR8.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L McCully
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Kristin Ladell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Andrews
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Rhiannon E Jones
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Kelly L Miners
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Laureline Roger
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J Cameron
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Zita M Jessop
- The Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea SA6 6NL, United Kingdom; and
| | - Iain S Whitaker
- The Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea SA6 6NL, United Kingdom; and
| | - Eleri L Davies
- Breast Centre, University Hospital of Llandough, Llandough CF64 2XX, United Kingdom
| | - David A Price
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Bernhard Moser
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom;
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
Chromosomal translocations are now well understood to not only constitute signature molecular markers for certain human cancers but often also to be causative in the genesis of that tumor. Despite the obvious importance of such events, the molecular mechanism of chromosomal translocations in human cells remains poorly understood. Part of the explanation for this dearth of knowledge is due to the complexity of the reaction and the need to archaeologically work backwards from the final product (a translocation) to the original unrearranged chromosomes to infer mechanism. Although not definitive, these studies have indicated that the aberrant usage of endogenous DNA repair pathways likely lies at the heart of the problem. An equally obfuscating aspect of this field, however, has also originated from the unfortunate species-specific differences that appear to exist in the relevant model systems that have been utilized to investigate this process. Specifically, yeast and murine systems (which are often used by basic science investigators) rely on different DNA repair pathways to promote chromosomal translocations than human somatic cells. In this chapter, we will review some of the basic concepts of chromosomal translocations and the DNA repair systems thought to be responsible for their genesis with an emphasis on underscoring the differences between other species and human cells. In addition, we will focus on a specific subset of translocations that involve the very end of a chromosome (a telomere). A better understanding of the relationship between DNA repair pathways and chromosomal translocations is guaranteed to lead to improved therapeutic treatments for cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Eric A Hendrickson
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Garcia-Martin I, Janssen AB, Jones RE, Grimstead JW, Penketh RJA, Baird DM, John RM. Telomere length heterogeneity in placenta revealed with high-resolution telomere length analysis. Placenta 2017; 59:61-68. [PMID: 29108638 PMCID: PMC5687939 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Telomeres, are composed of tandem repeat sequences located at the ends of chromosomes and are required to maintain genomic stability. Telomeres can become shorter due to cell division and specific lifestyle factors. Critically shortened telomeres are linked to cellular dysfunction, senescence and aging. A number of studies have used low resolution techniques to assess telomere length in the placenta. In this study, we applied Single Telomere Length Analysis (STELA) which provides high-resolution chromosome specific telomere length profiles to ask whether we could obtain more detailed information on the length of individual telomeres in the placenta. METHODS Term placentas (37-42 weeks) were collected from women delivering at University Hospital of Wales or Royal Gwent Hospital within 2 h of delivery. Multiple telomere-length distributions were determined using STELA. Intraplacental variation of telomere length was analysed (N = 5). Telomere length distributions were compared between labouring (N = 10) and non-labouring (N = 11) participants. Finally, telomere length was compared between female (N = 17) and male (N = 20) placenta. RESULTS There were no significant influences of sampling site, mode of delivery or foetal sex on the telomere-length distributions obtained. The mean telomere length was 7.7 kb ranging from 5.0 kb to 11.7 kb across all samples (N = 42) and longer compared with other human tissues at birth. STELA also revealed considerable telomere length heterogeneity within samples. CONCLUSIONS We have shown that STELA can be used to study telomere length homeostasis in the placenta regardless of sampling site, mode of delivery and foetal sex. Moreover, as each amplicon is derived from a single telomeric molecule, from a single cell, STELA can reveal the full detail of telomere-length distributions, including telomeres within the length ranges observed in senescent cells. STELA thus provides a new tool to interrogate the relationship between telomere length and pregnancy complications linked to placental dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Garcia-Martin
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK
| | - A B Janssen
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK
| | - R E Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XN, UK
| | - J W Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XN, UK
| | - R J A Penketh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XW, UK
| | - D M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF14 4XN, UK
| | - R M John
- Division of Biomedicine, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales CF10 3AX, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Garcia-Martin I, Jensen A, Jones RE, Grimstead JW, Baird DM, John RM. Validating the use of STELA to measure placental telomere length. Placenta 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.07.254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
33
|
Williams J, Heppel NH, Britt-Compton B, Grimstead JW, Jones RE, Tauro S, Bowen DT, Knapper S, Groves M, Hills RK, Pepper C, Baird DM, Fegan C. Telomere length is an independent prognostic marker in MDS but not in de novo AML. Br J Haematol 2017; 178:240-249. [PMID: 28486748 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.14666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/11/2024]
Abstract
Telomere dysfunction is implicated in the generation of large-scale genomic rearrangements that drive progression to malignancy. In this study we used high-resolution single telomere length analysis (STELA) to examine the potential role of telomere dysfunction in 80 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and 95 de novo acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients. Despite the MDS cohort being older, they had significantly longer telomeres than the AML cohort (P < 0·0001) where telomere length was also significantly shorter in younger AML patients (age <60 years) (P = 0·02) and in FLT3 internal tandem duplication-mutated AML patients (P = 0·03). Using a previously determined telomere length threshold for telomere dysfunction (3·81 kb) did not provide prognostic resolution in AML [Hazard ratio (HR) = 0·68, P = 0·2]. In contrast, the same length threshold was highly prognostic for overall survival in the MDS cohort (HR = 5·0, P < 0·0001). Furthermore, this telomere length threshold was an independent parameter in multivariate analysis when adjusted for age, gender, cytogenetic risk group, number of cytopenias and International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) score (HR = 2·27, P < 0·0001). Therefore, telomere length should be assessed in a larger prospective study to confirm its prognostic role in MDS with a view to integrating this variable into a revised IPSS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna Williams
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Nicole H Heppel
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Bethan Britt-Compton
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Julia W Grimstead
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Rhiannon E Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sudhir Tauro
- Department of Haematology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK
| | - David T Bowen
- Department of Haematology, St James's Institute of Oncology, Leeds, UK
| | - Steven Knapper
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Michael Groves
- Department of Haematology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK
| | - Robert K Hills
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Chris Pepper
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Chris Fegan
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Hyatt S, Jones RE, Heppel NH, Grimstead JW, Fegan C, Jackson GH, Hills R, Allan JM, Pratt G, Pepper C, Baird DM. Telomere length is a critical determinant for survival in multiple myeloma. Br J Haematol 2017; 178:94-98. [PMID: 28342200 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.14643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The variable clinical outcomes of Multiple Myeloma (MM) patients are incompletely defined by current prognostication tools. We examined the clinical utility of high-resolution telomere length analysis as a prognostic marker in MM. Cohort stratification, using a previously determined length threshold for telomere dysfunction, revealed that patients with short telomeres had a significantly shorter overall survival (P < 0·0001; HR = 3·4). Multivariate modelling using forward selection identified International Staging System (ISS) stage as the most important prognostic factor, followed by age and telomere length. Importantly, each ISS prognostic subset could be further risk-stratified according to telomere length, supporting the inclusion of this parameter as a refinement of the ISS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sam Hyatt
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Rhiannon E Jones
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Nicole H Heppel
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Julia W Grimstead
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Chris Fegan
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Graham H Jackson
- Department of Haematology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Robert Hills
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - James M Allan
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Guy Pratt
- Centre for Clinical Haematology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Chris Pepper
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Lopez-Anton M, Rudolf A, Baird DM, Roger L, Jones RE, Witowski J, Fraser DJ, Bowen T. Telomere length profiles in primary human peritoneal mesothelial cells are consistent with senescence. Mech Ageing Dev 2017; 164:37-40. [PMID: 28373051 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2017.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Mesothelial cell (MC) senescence contributes to malignancy and tissue fibrosis. The role of telomere erosion in MC senescence remains controversial, with evidence for both telomere-dependent and telomere-independent mechanisms reported. Single telomere length analysis revealed considerable telomere length heterogeneity in freshly isolated human peritoneal MCs, reflecting a heterogeneous proliferative history and providing high-resolution evidence for telomere-dependent senescence. By contrast the attenuated replicative lifespan, lack of telomere erosion and induction of p16 expression in in vitro-aged cells was consistent with stress-induced senescence. Given the potential pathophysiological impact of senescence in mesothelial tissues, high-resolution MC telomere length analysis may provide clinically useful information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melisa Lopez-Anton
- Wales Kidney Research Unit, Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
| | - András Rudolf
- Department of Pathophysiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
| | - Laureline Roger
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
| | - Rhiannon E Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
| | - Janusz Witowski
- Department of Pathophysiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Donald J Fraser
- Wales Kidney Research Unit, Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair, Cardiff University, Museum Place, Cardiff CF10 3BG, UK.
| | - Timothy Bowen
- Wales Kidney Research Unit, Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair, Cardiff University, Museum Place, Cardiff CF10 3BG, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Rice C, Shastrula PK, Kossenkov AV, Hills R, Baird DM, Showe LC, Doukov T, Janicki S, Skordalakes E. Structural and functional analysis of the human POT1-TPP1 telomeric complex. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14928. [PMID: 28393830 PMCID: PMC5394233 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
POT1 and TPP1 are part of the shelterin complex and are essential for telomere length regulation and maintenance. Naturally occurring mutations of the telomeric POT1-TPP1 complex are implicated in familial glioma, melanoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Here we report the atomic structure of the interacting portion of the human telomeric POT1-TPP1 complex and suggest how several of these mutations contribute to malignant cancer. The POT1 C-terminus (POT1C) forms a bilobal structure consisting of an OB-fold and a holiday junction resolvase domain. TPP1 consists of several loops and helices involved in extensive interactions with POT1C. Biochemical data shows that several of the cancer-associated mutations, partially disrupt the POT1-TPP1 complex, which affects its ability to bind telomeric DNA efficiently. A defective POT1-TPP1 complex leads to longer and fragile telomeres, which in turn promotes genomic instability and cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cory Rice
- The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | | | | | - Robert Hills
- The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Duncan M. Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Louise C. Showe
- The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Tzanko Doukov
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - Susan Janicki
- The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Emmanuel Skordalakes
- The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Letsolo BT, Jones RE, Rowson J, Grimstead JW, Keith WN, Jenkins GJS, Baird DM. Extensive telomere erosion is consistent with localised clonal expansions in Barrett's metaplasia. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174833. [PMID: 28362812 PMCID: PMC5375150 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Barrett's oesophagus is a premalignant metaplastic condition that predisposes patients to the development of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. However, only a minor fraction of Barrett's oesophagus patients progress to adenocarcinoma and it is thus essential to determine bio-molecular markers that can predict the progression of this condition. Telomere dysfunction is considered to drive clonal evolution in several tumour types and telomere length analysis provides clinically relevant prognostic and predictive information. The aim of this work was to use high-resolution telomere analysis to examine telomere dynamics in Barrett's oesophagus. Telomere length analysis of XpYp, 17p, 11q and 9p, chromosome arms that contain key cancer related genes that are known to be subjected to copy number changes in Barrett's metaplasia, revealed similar profiles at each chromosome end, indicating that no one specific telomere is likely to suffer preferential telomere erosion. Analysis of patient matched tissues (233 samples from 32 patients) sampled from normal squamous oesophagus, Z-line, and 2 cm intervals within Barrett's metaplasia, plus oesophago-gastric junction, gastric body and antrum, revealed extensive telomere erosion in Barrett's metaplasia to within the length ranges at which telomere fusion is detected in other tumour types. Telomere erosion was not uniform, with distinct zones displaying more extensive erosion and more homogenous telomere length profiles. These data are consistent with an extensive proliferative history of cells within Barrett's metaplasia and are indicative of localised clonal growth. The extent of telomere erosion highlights the potential of telomere dysfunction to drive genome instability and clonal evolution in Barrett's metaplasia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Boitelo T. Letsolo
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Rhiannon E. Jones
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Rowson
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Julia W. Grimstead
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - W. Nicol Keith
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Gareth J. S. Jenkins
- GI Cancer Group, School of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan M. Baird
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Fellows CR, Williams R, Davies IR, Gohil K, Baird DM, Fairclough J, Rooney P, Archer CW, Khan IM. Characterisation of a divergent progenitor cell sub-populations in human osteoarthritic cartilage: the role of telomere erosion and replicative senescence. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41421. [PMID: 28150695 PMCID: PMC5288717 DOI: 10.1038/srep41421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years it has become increasingly clear that articular cartilage harbours a viable pool of progenitor cells and interest has focussed on their role during development and disease. Analysis of progenitor numbers using fluorescence-activated sorting techniques has resulted in wide-ranging estimates, which may be the result of context-dependent expression of cell surface markers. We have used a colony-forming assay to reliably determine chondroprogenitor numbers in normal and osteoarthritic cartilage where we observed a 2-fold increase in diseased tissue (P < 0.0001). Intriguingly, cell kinetic analysis of clonal isolates derived from single and multiple donors of osteoarthritic cartilage revealed the presence of a divergent progenitor subpopulation characterised by an early senescent phenotype. Divergent sub-populations displayed increased senescence-associated β–galactosidase activity, lower average telomere lengths but retained the capacity to undergo multi-lineage differentiation. Osteoarthritis is an age-related disease and cellular senescence is predicted to be a significant component of the pathological process. This study shows that although early senescence is an inherent property of a subset of activated progenitors, there is also a pool of progenitors with extended viability and regenerative potential residing within osteoarthritic cartilage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Fellows
- Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, UK.,Centre for NanoHealth, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, UK.,University of Surrey, Department of Veterinary Preclinincal Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Guildford, UK
| | | | - Iwan R Davies
- Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, UK
| | - Kajal Gohil
- Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff, UK
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Cardiff University, Institute of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - Paul Rooney
- NHS Blood and Transplant Tissue Services, Liverpool, UK
| | - Charles W Archer
- Centre for NanoHealth, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, UK
| | - Ilyas M Khan
- Centre for NanoHealth, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, UK
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Ahmed R, Roger L, Costa Del Amo P, Miners KL, Jones RE, Boelen L, Fali T, Elemans M, Zhang Y, Appay V, Baird DM, Asquith B, Price DA, Macallan DC, Ladell K. Human Stem Cell-like Memory T Cells Are Maintained in a State of Dynamic Flux. Cell Rep 2016; 17:2811-2818. [PMID: 27974195 PMCID: PMC5186732 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.11.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptive immunity requires the generation of memory T cells from naive precursors selected in the thymus. The key intermediaries in this process are stem cell-like memory T (TSCM) cells, multipotent progenitors that can both self-renew and replenish more differentiated subsets of memory T cells. In theory, antigen specificity within the TSCM pool may be imprinted statically as a function of largely dormant cells and/or retained dynamically by more transitory subpopulations. To explore the origins of immunological memory, we measured the turnover of TSCM cells in vivo using stable isotope labeling with heavy water. The data indicate that TSCM cells in both young and elderly subjects are maintained by ongoing proliferation. In line with this finding, TSCM cells displayed limited telomere length erosion coupled with high expression levels of active telomerase and Ki67. Collectively, these observations show that TSCM cells exist in a state of perpetual flux throughout the human lifespan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raya Ahmed
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George's, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Laureline Roger
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Pedro Costa Del Amo
- Department of Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Kelly L Miners
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Rhiannon E Jones
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Lies Boelen
- Department of Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Tinhinane Fali
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), 75013 Paris, France; INSERM U1135, CIMI-Paris, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Marjet Elemans
- Department of Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Yan Zhang
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George's, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Victor Appay
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), 75013 Paris, France; INSERM U1135, CIMI-Paris, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Becca Asquith
- Department of Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - David A Price
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK; Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Derek C Macallan
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George's, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK; St. George's University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0QT, UK.
| | - Kristin Ladell
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Nelson DM, Jaber-Hijazi F, Cole JJ, Robertson NA, Pawlikowski JS, Norris KT, Criscione SW, Pchelintsev NA, Piscitello D, Stong N, Rai TS, McBryan T, Otte GL, Nixon C, Clark W, Riethman H, Wu H, Schotta G, Garcia BA, Neretti N, Baird DM, Berger SL, Adams PD. Mapping H4K20me3 onto the chromatin landscape of senescent cells indicates a function in control of cell senescence and tumor suppression through preservation of genetic and epigenetic stability. Genome Biol 2016; 17:158. [PMID: 27457071 PMCID: PMC4960804 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-016-1017-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Histone modification H4K20me3 and its methyltransferase SUV420H2 have been implicated in suppression of tumorigenesis. The underlying mechanism is unclear, although H4K20me3 abundance increases during cellular senescence, a stable proliferation arrest and tumor suppressor process, triggered by diverse molecular cues, including activated oncogenes. Here, we investigate the function of H4K20me3 in senescence and tumor suppression. RESULTS Using immunofluorescence and ChIP-seq we determine the distribution of H4K20me3 in proliferating and senescent human cells. Altered H4K20me3 in senescence is coupled to H4K16ac and DNA methylation changes in senescence. In senescent cells, H4K20me3 is especially enriched at DNA sequences contained within specialized domains of senescence-associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF), as well as specific families of non-genic and genic repeats. Altered H4K20me3 does not correlate strongly with changes in gene expression between proliferating and senescent cells; however, in senescent cells, but not proliferating cells, H4K20me3 enrichment at gene bodies correlates inversely with gene expression, reflecting de novo accumulation of H4K20me3 at repressed genes in senescent cells, including at genes also repressed in proliferating cells. Although elevated SUV420H2 upregulates H4K20me3, this does not accelerate senescence of primary human cells. However, elevated SUV420H2/H4K20me3 reinforces oncogene-induced senescence-associated proliferation arrest and slows tumorigenesis in vivo. CONCLUSIONS These results corroborate a role for chromatin in underpinning the senescence phenotype but do not support a major role for H4K20me3 in initiation of senescence. Rather, we speculate that H4K20me3 plays a role in heterochromatinization and stabilization of the epigenome and genome of pre-malignant, oncogene-expressing senescent cells, thereby suppressing epigenetic and genetic instability and contributing to long-term senescence-mediated tumor suppression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David M. Nelson
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
| | - Farah Jaber-Hijazi
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
| | - John J. Cole
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
| | - Neil A. Robertson
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
| | - Jeffrey S. Pawlikowski
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
| | - Kevin T. Norris
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN UK
| | - Steven W. Criscione
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02903 USA
| | - Nikolay A. Pchelintsev
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
| | - Desiree Piscitello
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
| | | | - Taranjit Singh Rai
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
- Institute of Biomedical and Environmental Health Research, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, PA1 2BE UK
| | - Tony McBryan
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
| | - Gabriel L. Otte
- Epigenetics Program, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Colin Nixon
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
| | - William Clark
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
| | | | - Hong Wu
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111 USA
| | - Gunnar Schotta
- Ludwig Maximilians University and Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science (CiPSM), Biomedical Center, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Benjamin A. Garcia
- Epigenetics Program, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Nicola Neretti
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02903 USA
| | - Duncan M. Baird
- Division of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN UK
| | - Shelley L. Berger
- Epigenetics Program, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Peter D. Adams
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
- Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow, G61 1BD UK
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Liddiard K, Ruis B, Takasugi T, Harvey A, Ashelford KE, Hendrickson EA, Baird DM. Sister chromatid telomere fusions, but not NHEJ-mediated inter-chromosomal telomere fusions, occur independently of DNA ligases 3 and 4. Genome Res 2016; 26:588-600. [PMID: 26941250 PMCID: PMC4864465 DOI: 10.1101/gr.200840.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres shorten with each cell division and can ultimately become substrates for nonhomologous end-joining repair, leading to large-scale genomic rearrangements of the kind frequently observed in human cancers. We have characterized more than 1400 telomere fusion events at the single-molecule level, using a combination of high-throughput sequence analysis together with experimentally induced telomeric double-stranded DNA breaks. We show that a single chromosomal dysfunctional telomere can fuse with diverse nontelomeric genomic loci, even in the presence of an otherwise stable genome, and that fusion predominates in coding regions. Fusion frequency was markedly increased in the absence of TP53 checkpoint control and significantly modulated by the cellular capacity for classical, versus alternative, nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). We observed a striking reduction in inter-chromosomal fusion events in cells lacking DNA ligase 4, in contrast to a remarkably consistent profile of intra-chromosomal fusion in the context of multiple genetic knockouts, including DNA ligase 3 and 4 double-knockouts. We reveal distinct mutational signatures associated with classical NHEJ-mediated inter-chromosomal, as opposed to alternative NHEJ-mediated intra-chromosomal, telomere fusions and evidence for an unanticipated sufficiency of DNA ligase 1 for these intra-chromosomal events. Our findings have implications for mechanisms driving cancer genome evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate Liddiard
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Brian Ruis
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Taylor Takasugi
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Adam Harvey
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Kevin E Ashelford
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| | - Eric A Hendrickson
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Simpson K, Jones RE, Grimstead JW, Hills R, Pepper C, Baird DM. Telomere fusion threshold identifies a poor prognostic subset of breast cancer patients. Mol Oncol 2015; 9:1186-93. [PMID: 25752197 PMCID: PMC4449122 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2015.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Revised: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere dysfunction and fusion can drive genomic instability and clonal evolution in human tumours, including breast cancer. Telomere length is a critical determinant of telomere function and has been evaluated as a prognostic marker in several tumour types, but it has yet to be used in the clinical setting. Here we show that high‐resolution telomere length analysis, together with a specific telomere fusion threshold, is highly prognostic for overall survival in a cohort of patients diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast (n = 120). The telomere fusion threshold defined a small subset of patients with an extremely poor clinical outcome, with a median survival of less than 12 months (HR = 21.4 (7.9–57.6), P < 0.0001). Furthermore, this telomere length threshold was independent of ER, PGR, HER2 status, NPI, or grade and was the dominant variable in multivariate analysis. We conclude that the fusogenic telomere length threshold provides a powerful, independent prognostic marker with clinical utility in breast cancer. Larger prospective studies are now required to determine the optimal way to incorporate high‐resolution telomere length analysis into multivariate prognostic algorithms for patients diagnosed with breast cancer. High‐resolution telomere length analysis is highly prognostic for overall survival. Independent of ER, PGR, HER2 status, NPI and grade. Dominant variable in multivariate analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Simpson
- Institute of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - R E Jones
- Institute of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - J W Grimstead
- Institute of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - R Hills
- Institute of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - C Pepper
- Institute of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - D M Baird
- Institute of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Hendrickson EA, Baird DM. Alternative end joining, clonal evolution, and escape from a telomere-driven crisis. Mol Cell Oncol 2015; 2:e975623. [PMID: 27308409 PMCID: PMC4905247 DOI: 10.4161/23723556.2014.975623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2014] [Revised: 09/27/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Telomere dysfunction and fusion play key roles in driving genomic instability and clonal evolution in many tumor types. We have recently described a role for DNA ligase III (LIG3) in facilitating the escape of cells from crisis induced by telomere dysfunction. Our data indicate that LIG3-mediated telomere fusion is important in facilitating clonal evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Hendrickson
- Department of Biochemistry; Molecular Biology, and Biophysics ; University of Minnesota Medical School ; Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics; School of Medicine ; Cardiff University, Heath Park ; Cardiff, UK
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Jones RE, Oh S, Grimstead JW, Zimbric J, Roger L, Heppel NH, Ashelford KE, Liddiard K, Hendrickson EA, Baird DM. Escape from telomere-driven crisis is DNA ligase III dependent. Cell Rep 2014; 8:1063-76. [PMID: 25127141 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Revised: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Short dysfunctional telomeres are capable of fusion, generating dicentric chromosomes and initiating breakage-fusion-bridge cycles. Cells that escape the ensuing cellular crisis exhibit large-scale genomic rearrangements that drive clonal evolution and malignant progression. We demonstrate that there is an absolute requirement for fully functional DNA ligase III (LIG3), but not ligase IV (LIG4), to facilitate the escape from a telomere-driven crisis. LIG3- and LIG4-dependent alternative (A) and classical (C) nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathways were capable of mediating the fusion of short dysfunctional telomeres, both displaying characteristic patterns of microhomology and deletion. Cells that failed to escape crisis exhibited increased proportions of C-NHEJ-mediated interchromosomal fusions, whereas those that escaped displayed increased proportions of intrachromosomal fusions. We propose that the balance between inter- and intrachromosomal telomere fusions dictates the ability of human cells to escape crisis and is influenced by the relative activities of A- and C-NHEJ at short dysfunctional telomeres.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rhiannon E Jones
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Sehyun Oh
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Julia W Grimstead
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Jacob Zimbric
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Laureline Roger
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Nicole H Heppel
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Kevin E Ashelford
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Kate Liddiard
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Eric A Hendrickson
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Lin TT, Norris K, Heppel NH, Pratt G, Allan JM, Allsup DJ, Bailey J, Cawkwell L, Hills R, Grimstead JW, Jones RE, Britt-Compton B, Fegan C, Baird DM, Pepper C. Telomere dysfunction accurately predicts clinical outcome in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, even in patients with early stage disease. Br J Haematol 2014; 167:214-23. [PMID: 24990087 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.13023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Defining the prognosis of individual cancer sufferers remains a significant clinical challenge. Here we assessed the ability of high-resolution single telomere length analysis (STELA), combined with an experimentally derived definition of telomere dysfunction, to predict the clinical outcome of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). We defined the upper telomere length threshold at which telomere fusions occur and then used the mean of the telomere 'fusogenic' range as a prognostic tool. Patients with telomeres within the fusogenic range had a significantly shorter overall survival (P < 0·0001; Hazard ratio [HR] = 13·2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 11·6-106·4) and this was preserved in early-stage disease patients (P < 0·0001, HR=19·3, 95% CI = 17·8-802·5). Indeed, our assay allowed the accurate stratification of Binet stage A patients into those with indolent disease (91% survival at 10 years) and those with poor prognosis (13% survival at 10 years). Furthermore, patients with telomeres above the fusogenic mean showed superior prognosis regardless of their IGHV mutation status or cytogenetic risk group. In keeping with this finding, telomere dysfunction was the dominant variable in multivariate analysis. Taken together, this study provides compelling evidence for the use of high-resolution telomere length analysis coupled with a definition of telomere dysfunction in the prognostic assessment of CLL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thet Thet Lin
- Cardiff CLL Research Group, Institute of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Abstract
The shelterin proteins are required for telomere integrity. Shelterin dysfunction can lead to initiation of unwarranted DNA damage and repair pathways at chromosomal termini. Interestingly, many shelterin accessory proteins are involved in DNA damage signaling and repair. We demonstrate here that in normal human fibroblasts, telomeric ends are protected by phosphorylation of CGG triplet repeat-binding protein 1 (CGGBP1) at serine 164 (S164). We show that serine 164 is a major phosphorylation site on CGGBP1 with important functions. We provide evidence that one of the kinases that can phosphorylate S164 CGGBP1 is ATR. Overexpression of S164A phospho-deficient CGGBP1 exerted a dominant-negative effect, causing telomeric dysfunction, accelerated telomere shortening, enhanced fusion of telomeres, and crisis. However, overexpression of wild-type or phospho-mimicking S164E CGGBP1 did not cause these effects. This telomere damage was associated with reduced binding of the shelterin protein POT1 to telomeric DNA. Our results suggest that CGGBP1 phosphorylation at S164 is a novel telomere protection signal, which can affect telomere-protective function of the shelterin complex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Umashankar Singh
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology; Uppsala University; Tumor Biology; Rudbeck Laboratory; Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Varun Maturi
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology; Uppsala University; Tumor Biology; Rudbeck Laboratory; Uppsala, Sweden; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research; Science for Life Laboratory; Uppsala University; Biomedical Center; Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rhiannon E Jones
- Department of Pathology; School of Medicine; Cardiff University; Cardiff, UK
| | - Ylva Paulsson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology; Uppsala University; Tumor Biology; Rudbeck Laboratory; Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Duncan M Baird
- Department of Pathology; School of Medicine; Cardiff University; Cardiff, UK
| | - Bengt Westermark
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology; Uppsala University; Tumor Biology; Rudbeck Laboratory; Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Roger L, Jones RE, Heppel NH, Williams GT, Sampson JR, Baird DM. Extensive telomere erosion in the initiation of colorectal adenomas and its association with chromosomal instability. J Natl Cancer Inst 2013; 105:1202-11. [PMID: 23918447 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djt191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere shortening, dysfunction, and fusion may facilitate the acquisition of large-scale genomic rearrangements, driving clonal evolution and tumor progression. The relative contribution that telomere dysfunction and/or APC mutation play in the chromosome instability that occurs during colorectal tumorigenesis is not clear. METHODS We used high-resolution telomere length and fusion analysis to analyze 85 adenomatous colorectal polyps obtained from 10 patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and a panel of 50 colorectal carcinomas with patient-matched normal colonic mucosa. Telomerase activity was determined using the telomeric repeat amplification protocol. Array-CGH was used to detect large-scale genomic rearrangements. Pearson correlation and Student t test were used, and all statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Despite the presence of telomerase activity, we observed apparent telomere shortening in colorectal polyps that correlated with large-scale genomic rearrangements (P < .0001) but was independent of polyp size and indistinguishable from that observed in colorectal carcinomas (P = .82). We also observed apparent lengthening of telomeres in both polyps and carcinomas. The extensive differences in mean telomere length of up to 4.6kb between patient-matched normal mucosa and polyps were too large to be accounted for by replicative telomere erosion alone. Telomere fusion events were detected in both polyps and carcinomas; the mutational spectrum accompanying fusion was consistent with alternative nonhomologous end joining. CONCLUSIONS Telomere length distributions observed in colorectal polyps reflect the telomere length composition of the normal originating cells from which clonal growth was initiated. Originating cells containing both short telomeres and APC mutations may give rise to polyps that exhibit short telomeres and are prone to telomere dysfunction, driving genomic instability and progression to malignancy. J Natl Cancer Inst;2013;105:1202-1211.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laureline Roger
- Institute of Cancer and Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Mocellin S, Verdi D, Pooley KA, Landi MT, Egan KM, Baird DM, Prescott J, De Vivo I, Nitti D. Telomerase reverse transcriptase locus polymorphisms and cancer risk: a field synopsis and meta-analysis. J Natl Cancer Inst 2012; 104:840-54. [PMID: 22523397 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djs222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several recent studies have provided evidence that polymorphisms in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene sequence are associated with cancer development, but a comprehensive synopsis is not available. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available molecular epidemiology data regarding the association between TERT locus polymorphisms and predisposition to cancer. METHODS A systematic review of the English literature was conducted by searching PubMed, Embase, Cancerlit, Google Scholar, and ISI Web of Knowledge databases for studies on associations between TERT locus polymorphisms and cancer risk. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to pool per-allele odds ratios for TERT locus polymorphisms and risk of cancer, and between-study heterogeneity and potential bias sources (eg, publication and chasing bias) were assessed. Because the TERT locus includes the cleft lip and palate transmembrane 1-like (CLPTM1L) gene, which is in linkage disequilibrium with TERT, CLPTM1L polymorphisms were also analyzed. Cumulative evidence for polymorphisms with statistically significant associations was graded as "strong," "moderate," and "weak" according to the Venice criteria. The joint population attributable risk was calculated for polymorphisms with strong evidence of association. RESULTS Eighty-five studies enrolling 490 901 subjects and reporting on 494 allelic contrasts were retrieved. Data were available on 67 TERT locus polymorphisms and 24 tumor types, for a total of 221 unique combinations of polymorphisms and cancer types. Upon meta-analysis, a statistically significant association with the risk of any cancer type was found for 22 polymorphisms. Strong, moderate, and weak cumulative evidence for association with at least one tumor type was demonstrated for 11, 9, and 14 polymorphisms, respectively. For lung cancer, which was the most studied tumor type, the estimated joint population attributable risk for three polymorphisms (TERT rs2736100, intergenic rs4635969, and CLPTM1L rs402710) was 41%. Strong evidence for lack of association was identified for five polymorphisms in three tumor types. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the largest collection of data for associations between TERT locus polymorphisms and cancer risk. Our findings support the hypothesis that genetic variability in this genomic region can modulate cancer susceptibility in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Mocellin
- Department of Oncological and Surgical Sciences, Meta-analysis Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Pettigrew KA, Armstrong RN, Colyer HAA, Zhang SD, Rea IM, Jones RE, Baird DM, Mills KI. Differential TERT promoter methylation and response to 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines: TERT expression, telomerase activity, telomere length, and cell death. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2012; 51:768-80. [PMID: 22517724 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.21962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2011] [Accepted: 03/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The catalytic subunit of human telomerase (TERT) is highly expressed in cancer cells, and correlates with complex cytogenetics and disease severity in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The TERT promoter is situated within a large CpG island, suggesting that expression is methylation-sensitive. Studies suggest a correlation between hypermethylation and TERT overexpression. We investigated the relationship between TERT promoter methylation and expression and telomerase activity in human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines. DAC-induced demethylation and cell death were observed in all three cell lines, as well as telomere shortening in HL-60 cells. DAC treatment reduced TERT expression and telomerase activity in OCI/AML3 and HL-60 cells, but not in U937 cells. Control U937 cells expressed lower levels of TERT mRNA, carried a highly methylated TERT core promoter, and proved more resistant to DAC-induced repression of TERT expression and cell death. AML patients had significantly lower methylation levels at several CpGs than "well elderly" individuals. This study, the first to investigate the relationship between TERT methylation and telomerase activity in leukemia cells, demonstrated a differential methylation pattern and response to DAC in three AML cell lines. We suggest that, although DAC treatment reduces TERT expression and telomerase activity, this is unlikely to occur via direct demethylation of the TERT promoter. However, further investigations on the regions spanning CpGs 7-12 and 14-16 may reveal valuable information regarding transcriptional regulation of TERT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kerry A Pettigrew
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Abstract
Observations in human tumours, as well as mouse models, have indicated that telomere dysfunction may be a key event driving genomic instability and disease progression in many solid tumour types. In this scenario, telomere shortening ultimately results in telomere dysfunction, fusion and genomic instability, creating the large-scale rearrangements that are characteristic of these tumours. It is now becoming apparent that this paradigm may also apply to haematological malignancies; indeed these conditions have provided some of the most convincing evidence of telomere dysfunction in any malignancy. Telomere length has been shown in several malignancies to provide clinically useful prognostic information, implicating telomere dysfunction in disease progression. In these malignancies extreme telomere shortening, telomere dysfunction and fusion have all been documented and correlate with the emergence of increased genomic complexity. Telomeres may therefore represent both a clinically useful prognostic tool and a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ceri H Jones
- Department of Haematology,School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|