Unravelling heterogeneous effects of cancer‑associated fibroblasts on poor prognosis markers in breast cancer EM‑G3 cell line: In vitro‑targeted treatment (anti‑IL-6, anti‑VEGF-A, anti‑MFGE8) based on transcriptomic profiling

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Although dramatically increased survival rates of early diagnosed cases have been observed, late diagnosed patients and metastatic cancer may still be considered fatal. The present study's main focus was on cancer‑associated fibroblasts (CAFs) which is an active component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulating the breast cancer ecosystem. Transcriptomic profiling and analysis of CAFs isolated from breast cancer skin metastasis, cutaneous basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma unravelled major gene candidates such as IL6, VEGFA and MFGE8 that induced co‑expression of keratins‑8/‑14 in the EM‑G3 cell line derived from infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma. Western blot analysis of selected keratins (keratin‑8, ‑14, ‑18, ‑19) and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition‑associated markers (SLUG, SNAIL, ZEB1, E‑/N‑cadherin, vimentin) revealed specific responses pointing to certain heterogeneity of the studied CAF populations. Experimental in vitro treatment using neutralizing antibodies against IL-6, VEGF‑A and MFGE8 attenuated the modulatory effect of CAFs on EM‑G3 cells. The present study provided novel data in characterizing and understanding the interactions between CAFs and EM‑G3 cells in vitro. CAFs of different origins support the pro‑inflammatory microenvironment and influence the biology of breast cancer cells. This observation potentially holds significant interest for the development of novel, clinically relevant approaches targeting the TME in breast cancer. Furthermore, its implications extend beyond breast cancer and have the potential to impact a wide range of other cancer types.

Inhibition of casein kinase 2 induces cell death in tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia cells

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disease characterized by the BCR-ABL oncogene. Despite the high performance of treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), about 30% of patients develop resistance to the therapy. To improve the outcomes, identification of new targets of treatment is needed. Here, we explored the Casein Kinase 2 (CK2) as a potential target for CML therapy. Previously, we detected increased phosphorylation of HSP90β Serine 226 in patients non-responding to TKIs imatinib and dasatinib. This site is known to be phosphorylated by CK2, which was also linked to CML resistance to imatinib. In the present work, we established six novel imatinib- and dasatinib-resistant CML cell lines, all of which had increased CK2 activation. A CK2 inhibitor, CX-4945, induced cell death of CML cells in both parental and resistant cell lines. In some cases, CK2 inhibition also potentiated the effects of TKI on the cell metabolic activity. No effects of CK2 inhibition were observed in normal mononuclear blood cells from healthy donors and BCR-ABL negative HL60 cell line. Our data indicate that CK2 kinase supports CML cell viability even in cells with different mechanisms of resistance to TKI, and thus represents a potential target for treatment.

Rhomboid intramembrane protease YqgP licenses bacterial membrane protein quality control as adaptor of FtsH AAA protease

Magnesium homeostasis is essential for life and depends on magnesium transporters, whose activity and ion selectivity need to be tightly controlled. Rhomboid intramembrane proteases pervade the prokaryotic kingdom, but their functions are largely elusive. Using proteomics, we find that Bacillus subtilis rhomboid protease YqgP interacts with the membrane‐bound ATP‐dependent processive metalloprotease FtsH and cleaves MgtE, the major high‐affinity magnesium transporter in B. subtilis. MgtE cleavage by YqgP is potentiated in conditions of low magnesium and high manganese or zinc, thereby protecting B. subtilis from Mn²⁺/Zn²⁺ toxicity. The N‐terminal cytosolic domain of YqgP binds Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions and facilitates MgtE cleavage. Independently of its intrinsic protease activity, YqgP acts as a substrate adaptor for FtsH, a function that is necessary for degradation of MgtE. YqgP thus unites protease and pseudoprotease function, hinting at the evolutionary origin of rhomboid pseudoproteases such as Derlins that are intimately involved in eukaryotic ER‐associated degradation (ERAD). Conceptually, the YqgP‐FtsH system we describe here is analogous to a primordial form of “ERAD” in bacteria and exemplifies an ancestral function of rhomboid‐superfamily proteins.

Implication of cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic analysis in diagnosis of hematological malignancies in the era of the new sequencing techniques

In patients with hematological malignancies one of the most substantial findings is the karyotype of bone marrow cells at the time of diagnosis. The detection of clonal chromosome aberrations in diagnostic samples not only confirms a neoplastic or premalignant process but also provides important diagnostic and prognostic information essential for precise disease classification and choice of suitable therapy. Karyotype analysis during the disease course also allows monitoring of the treatment success reflected as well in the revised WHO classification where patients are often classified into the different diagnostic subtypes based on the finding of specific chromosome and/or genetic changes. Recently, also increases the number of advanced treatment approaches that directly or indirectly target the genetic aberrations present in tumor cells. Despite the large development of new sequencing technologies in recent years, cytogenetic analysis supplemented by the molecular cytogenetic methods still remains a very important part of diagnostics of hematological malignancies.

Does EmbryoGlue transfer medium affect embryo transfer success rate?

OBJECTIVE

Verification of the effect of EmbryoGlue (EG) transfer medium enriched with hyaluronan on the embryo transfer success rate.

DESIGN

A prospective study.

SETTING

Fertimed, Fertility Treatment Centre, Olomouc.

METHODS

484 patients undergoing IVF + ET were engaged who were divided according to the medium used during transfer: Sage or Vitrolife culture medium (n = 135) and EG transfer medium (n = 349). The influence of other factors was also evaluated: age, number of received oocytes, percentage of fertilised oocytes, endometrium height on the day of transfer, number of preserved embryos, number of transferred embryos and the length of cultivation (48, 72, 96, 120 h). These factors were considered quantitative variables while the method of hormone stimulation, the type of culture medium and the application of EG were considered qualitative (categorical) variables.

RESULTS

With the use of EG the chances of conception increased by approximately 9%. The negative effect of higher age on implantation proportion and the positive effect of cultivation prolongation were proven. The effect of EG on miscarriages was not proven. The probability of miscarriage diminished with higher oocyte fertilisation. The culture medium used (Sage or Vitrolife) before the application of EG does not affect the gravidity result.

CONCLUSION

Using the transfer medium of EmbryoGlue before embryo transfer affects the pregnancy rate (PR) in a positive manner. The influence on pregnancy loss with the application of EG was not proven.

HCG level after embryo transfer as a prognostic indicator of pregnancy finished with delivery

OBJECTIVE

To examine patients after embryo transfer for predictive influence of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level on the probability of finishing pregnancy with delivery.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Fertimed, Fertility Treatment Centre, Olomouc.

METHODS

490 patients pregnant after IVF + ET treat-ment placed in the study. The influence of other factors: age (patients 20-50), number of transferred embryos (one, two and more) and the length of cultivation on the probability of finishing pregnancy with delivery or loss and the possibility to predict multiple pregnancy was also related to the known hCG value. The transferred embryos were divided into two groups - early (cultivation 48 and 72 hrs) and prolonged cultivation (PC 96 and 120 hrs). The answer here, therefore, is a multinomial variable with four levels. For that reason the data was analysed through a multinomial logistic model vs. multinomial distribution of a mistake and generalised logistic link function.

RESULTS

The hCG level grows exponentially in the course of the 9th to 17th day after an embryo transfer (ET). The probability of one child delivery after the transfer of one embryo overdue after prolonged cultivation (96 or 120 hrs) grows with the average and above-average hCG values on the day of the draw. The hCG value was 678 (564-815) IU/l1 on the 14th day after ET in pregnancy ended in delivery, 321 (216-477) IU/l on average in abortion, 82 (51-132) IU/l in biochemical pregnancy and 1070 (737-1554) IU/l in multiple pregnancy. The probability of multiple pregnancy increased with hCG values greatly above the average and on the other hand, below-average values indicated abortion or biochemical pregnancy. The patients age was not proven to be of significant influence, the hCG level slightly decreased with higher age. On the contrary, an increasing frequency of abortions depending on the increasing age of the mother was once again confirmed.

CONCLUSION

The measured hCG values are considerably different depending on the pregnancy result, which is why this value is considered a quality predictive factor of the pregnancy result.

Quantitative proteomics screen identifies a substrate repertoire of rhomboid protease RHBDL2 in human cells and implicates it in epithelial homeostasis

Rhomboids are intramembrane serine proteases conserved in all kingdoms of life. They regulate epidermal growth factor receptor signalling in Drosophila by releasing signalling ligands from their transmembrane tethers. Their functions in mammals are poorly understood, in part because of the lack of endogenous substrates identified thus far. We used a quantitative proteomics approach to investigate the substrate repertoire of rhomboid protease RHBDL2 in human cells. We reveal a range of novel substrates that are specifically cleaved by RHBDL2, including the interleukin-6 receptor (IL6R), cell surface protease inhibitor Spint-1, the collagen receptor tyrosine kinase DDR1, N-Cadherin, CLCP1/DCBLD2, KIRREL, BCAM and others. We further demonstrate that these substrates can be shed by endogenously expressed RHBDL2 and that a subset of them is resistant to shedding by cell surface metalloproteases. The expression profiles and identity of the substrates implicate RHBDL2 in physiological or pathological processes affecting epithelial homeostasis.

Sensitive Versatile Fluorogenic Transmembrane Peptide Substrates for Rhomboid Intramembrane Proteases

Rhomboid proteases are increasingly being explored as potential drug targets, but their potent and specific inhibitors are not available, and strategies for inhibitor development are hampered by the lack of widely usable and easily modifiable in vitro activity assays. Here we address this bottleneck and report on the development of new fluorogenic transmembrane peptide substrates, which are cleaved by several unrelated rhomboid proteases, can be used both in detergent micelles and in liposomes, and contain red-shifted fluorophores that are suitable for high-throughput screening of compound libraries. We show that nearly the entire transmembrane domain of the substrate is important for efficient cleavage, implying that it extensively interacts with the enzyme. Importantly, we demonstrate that in the detergent micelle system, commonly used for the enzymatic analyses of intramembrane proteolysis, the cleavage rate strongly depends on detergent concentration, because the reaction proceeds only in the micelles. Furthermore, we show that the catalytic efficiency and selectivity toward a rhomboid substrate can be dramatically improved by targeted modification of the sequence of its P5 to P1 region. The fluorogenic substrates that we describe and their sequence variants should find wide use in the detection of activity and development of inhibitors of rhomboid proteases.

Characterization of a new human plasma cell leukemia cell line UHKT-944

OBJECTIVE

A new interleukin-6 (IL-6)-dependent plasma cell leukemia cell line UHKT-944 was established from bone marrow cells derived from a 55-yr-old man with plasma cell leukemia.

RESULTS

The cell line possesses phenotypic characteristics of plasma cells including the production of a monoclonal immunoglobulin IgA1-kappa. VH3-9 region of IgVH genes was rearranged and somatically hypermutated. The UHKT-944 cells were found to be negative for most of tested B-cell, T-cell, and myeloid markers. According to cytogenetic analysis, the cells were classified as near tetraploid with several numerical and structural abnormalities including the t(14;20) involving IgH locus.

CONCLUSION

The established permanent plasma cell leukemia cell line is a suitable model for the study of cellular and molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of this rare malignant disease.

Novel human multiple myeloma cell line UHKT-893

We established and characterized a new IL-6 dependent multiple myeloma (MM) cell line UHKT-893 from the bone marrow of a relapsed 57-year-old woman.

RESULTS

Using nephelometry, cells with plasma cell phenotype and morphology were found to secrete IgG and free kappa (κ)-light chain of immunoglobulin. κ-Light chain was also recognized intracellularly by flow cytometry and by mass spectrometry. VH4-39 region of IgVH genes was rearranged and somatically hypermutated. Cytogenetic analysis of cells revealed new chromosome abnormalities in all breakpoints unique in both MM patients and cell lines - t(1;6), t(1;11), t(5;15), t(5;21), +der(11;15) and der(16). IL-6 independent subline UHKT-893a was established by adaptation to descending IL-6 concentration, while the original cell line keeps on maintaining its IL-6 dependency.

CONCLUSION

The cell line provides a suitable material for cellular and molecular studies of tumor abnormalities, with potentially unique mutagenic features of myeloma disease. It may be utilized for human hybridoma construction and vaccine development. Both IL-6 dependent and independent cell clones represent an important model for studies of myeloma cell growth and resistance emerging during targeted therapy.

[Influence of the length of cultivation of no early cleavage embryos on the IVF success rate]

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the success of treatment cycle after transfer of no early cleavage embryos in relation to the length of in vitro cultivation.

TYPE OF THE STUDY

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University and University Hospital Olomouc.

METHODS

The IVF cycles with transfer of no early cleavage (NEC) embryos, ie. embryos with a delayed cleavage were evaluated in relation to the length of in vitro cultivation. The total of 338 embryos were cultured for three days (group 3D) and 204 embryos were cultured for 5 days (group 5D). The input parameters of the patients in these two groups were: their age, the percentage of fertilized oocytes and the number of transferred embryos. As the output parameters the number of cancelled cycles, clinical pregnancy rate (PR/ET), implantation rate (IR), and the number of pregnancy losses (AB) were evaluated. Finally, the results of these pregnancies were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Both study groups had the same input parameters, except that fewer embryos were transferred in the group 5D than in 3D (1.8 ± 0.5 vs. 2.0 ± 0.5,p = 0.000). No cycles were cancelled in the group 3D while 33 cycles were cancelled in 5D (p = 0.000). The number of clinical pregnancies and implantation rate in the group 5D was significantly higher than in 3D (PR/ET 50% vs. 37%, IR 36% vs. 25%, p = 0.001). The groups did not statistically significantly differ in the number of pregnancy losses, or in the number of pregnancies that resulted in childbirth.

CONCLUSION

In the 5D group with the longer in vitro cultivation statistically more pregnancies and implanted embryos were achieved, although the number of pregnancies that resulted in childbirth did not differ between groups.

[The occurence of genetic trombophilic markers in patients evaluated for infertility]

OBJECTIVE

To assess and compare the frequency of selected gene mutations of thrombophilic markers (FV Leiden, FII prothrombin G20210A and MTHFR C677T) in patients with primary and secondary infertility.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Institute of normal anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc.

METHODS

The study included 92 patients with primary infertility and 89 patients with secondary infertility. Indications for examination of these mutations were following: a positive family or personal history, a positive obstetrical history or a repeated failure of assisted reproduction treatment.

RESULTS

According to our anticipation, women with the secondary infertility were significantly older(p < 0.0005) than those with primary infertility. No mutations of genes of examined thrombophilic markers (FV, FII and MTHFR), either alone or in combination, were found in only 8.7 % patients with primary infertility and in 5.6 % patients with secondary infertility. Significantly higher frequency of factor Leiden(p < 0.02) was observed in women with secondary infertility. There were no significant differences in the frequency of detected mutations of the remaining factors.

CONCLUSION

Based on our findings we suggest that the assessment of selected gene mutations of thrombophilic markers should be a part of the diagnostic algorithm in patients with positive history for thrombophilic disorders.

Prognostic impact of DNMT3A mutations in patients with intermediate cytogenetic risk profile acute myeloid leukemia

OBJECTIVES

Recently, mutations in DNMT3A gene have been described in about 25% acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases, preferentially in monocytic AML. They were found to predict worse overall survival (OS) of mutated patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

RT-PCR followed by direct sequencing was used to test the presence of DNMT3A mutations in 226 AML patients with an intermediate-risk (IR) cytogenetics.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven patients of 226 (29.6%) carried a mutation in the DNMT3A gene. Occurrence of DNMT3A mutations was associated with female sex (P = 0.027) and with the presence of FLT3/ITD (P = 0.003), but not with particular FAB subtypes. Patients with DNMT3A mutation had higher initial WBC counts than those without it (P = 0.064) only because of higher incidence of FLT3/ITD within these cases. There was no difference between mutated and wild-type groups in reaching complete remission (CR) (P = 0.380). OS was not affected by DNMT3A mutation (P = 0.251), but OS of patients who reached CR was longer in DNMT3A negative cases (P = 0.025). Patients with DNMT3A mutation had a higher relapse rate (P = 0.007). Patients carrying both the DNMT3A mutation and FLT3/ITD relapsed more often than either patients with single DNMT3A mutation (P = 0.044) or patients with FLT3/ITD only (P = 0.058). DNMT3A mutations were associated with higher relapse rate even within the FLT3/ITD-negative group (P = 0.072). After reaching CR, these two genetic factors were independent predictors of relapse at multivariate analysis (P < 0.001). Only three of 30 'double-mutated' (FLT3/ITD+, DNMT3A+) patients are still alive, all of them having undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

CONCLUSIONS

We have confirmed the high incidence of DNMT3A mutations in patients with AML with IR cytogenetics. Patients with DNMT3A mutations relapse more often and have inferior OS when only patients achieving CR are analyzed. 'Double-mutated' patients have a very poor prognosis.

Unusually long survival of a 67-year-old patient with near-tetraploid acute myeloid leukemia m0 without erythroblastic and megakaryocytic dysplasia

Patients with near-tetraploid acute myeloid leukemia (NT-AML) typically have poor survival. We present the case of a 67-year-old Caucasian male with NT-AML M0 who had an unusually long first complete remission of 51 months and an overall survival of 80 months. The only characteristic distinguishing him from other previously described patients with NT-AML was the absence of erythroblastic and/or megakaryocytic dysplasia (EMD) at diagnosis. Molecular-genetic testing for AML fusion transcripts associated with a favorable prognosis (PML/RARα,AML1/ETO, and CBFβ/MYH11) were negative, as were other prognostic markers like MLL-PTD,FLT3-ITD, or mutations of FLT3-D835,NPM1, or CEBPA. Expression studies of ERG,MN1, and EVI1 revealed overexpression of ERG only. The absence of EMD may be a useful prognostic/diagnostic feature of this new rare subtype of NT-AML.

The assessment of array comparative genomic hybridization in complex karyotype analyses

Molecular-cytogenetic methods were used to analyse and specify complex genome rearrangements in malignant cells. Twelve samples of bone marrow cells were collected from patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The complex karyotypes were examined by multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization (mFISH), high-resolution multicolour banding (mBAND) and array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). For aCGH, DNA was isolated from fixed bone marrow cells in methanol and acetic acid and amplified by whole-genome amplification. Three samples were analysed by the oligonucleotide array NimbleGen on the basis of full service. BAC-based Haematochips (BlueGnome) were used for the other nine samples. Sensitivity and detection limits of both methods were compared. The results obtained by mFISH/mBAND were in most cases confirmed by the microarray technique. aCGH detected 43 unbalanced chromosomal changes that were also identified by classical cytogenetics and FISH. Moreover, aCGH discovered 14 additional changes. Cryptic amplifications and deletions were characterized with a resolution of 0.5 Mb. In one bone marrow sample with suspected monosomy 5 detected by conventional cytogenetic analysis, aCGH revealed a 22.3 Mb region of chromosome 5 inserted in another autosome within the complex karyotype. Amplified DNA was successfully used for aCGH in 11 out of 12 cases, improving resolution of unbalanced chromosomal aberrations. The combination of both approaches brought more detailed description of complex karyotypes and is highly recommended.

Changes in the development of uterine pinopodes in steroid hormone supplemented cycles

The endometrium acquires the ability to implant a hatched blastocyst only within a specific time termed the receptive phase. Ovarian steroid hormones are essential for structural and functional changes that prepare the endometrium to be receptive. Pinopodes have been suggested to be markers of uterine receptivity. The aim of this study was to compare the pinopode expression and serum levels of ovarian steroid hormones in the mid-luteal phase of the natural cycle and in a “mock” cycle in the same subject. Sequentional endometrial biopsies within 48 hours were obtained from women in the mid-luteal phase (ovulation +5, ovulation +7) of the natural cycle and in the “mock” cycle (progesterone supplementation +5 and +7). Biopsies were examined under a scanning electron microscope for pinopode detection. The expression of pinopodes was similar in both cycles, where pinopodes covered about 5 % of the endometrial surface. The developmental stages were also similar with a slight increase of fully developed pinopodes in both samples in the “mock” cycles. Our findings suggest that hormonal preparation of the endometrium do not change the timing of pinopode expression.