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Goral A, Firczuk M, Fidyt K, Sledz M, Simoncello F, Siudakowska K, Pagano G, Moussay E, Paggetti J, Nowakowska P, Gobessi S, Barankiewicz J, Salomon-Perzynski A, Benvenuti F, Efremov DG, Juszczynski P, Lech-Maranda E, Muchowicz A. A Specific CD44lo CD25lo Subpopulation of Regulatory T Cells Inhibits Anti-Leukemic Immune Response and Promotes the Progression in a Mouse Model of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Front Immunol 2022; 13:781364. [PMID: 35296093 PMCID: PMC8918500 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.781364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are capable of inhibiting the proliferation, activation and function of T cells and play an important role in impeding the immune response to cancer. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) a dysfunctional immune response and elevated percentage of effector-like phenotype Tregs have been described. In this study, using the Eµ-TCL1 mouse model of CLL, we evaluated the changes in the Tregs phenotype and their expansion at different stages of leukemia progression. Importantly, we show that Tregs depletion in DEREG mice triggered the expansion of new anti-leukemic cytotoxic T cell clones leading to leukemia eradication. In TCL1 leukemia-bearing mice we identified and characterized a specific Tregs subpopulation, the phenotype of which suggests its role in the formation of an immunosuppressive microenvironment, supportive for leukemia survival and proliferation. This observation was also confirmed by the gene expression profile analysis of these TCL1-specific Tregs. The obtained data on Tregs are consistent with those described so far, however, above all show that the changes in the Tregs phenotype described in CLL result from the formation of a specific, described in this study Tregs subpopulation. In addition, functional tests revealed the ability of Tregs to inhibit T cells that recognize model antigens expressed by leukemic cells. Moreover, inhibition of Tregs with a MALT1 inhibitor provided a therapeutic benefit, both as monotherapy and also when combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor. Altogether, activation of Tregs appears to be crucial for CLL progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Goral
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Klaudyna Fidyt
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Sledz
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Francesca Simoncello
- Cellular Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Pagano
- Tumor-Stroma Interactions, Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Etienne Moussay
- Tumor-Stroma Interactions, Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Jérôme Paggetti
- Tumor-Stroma Interactions, Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | | | - Stefania Gobessi
- Molecular Hematology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
| | - Joanna Barankiewicz
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Federica Benvenuti
- Cellular Immunology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
| | - Dimitar G. Efremov
- Molecular Hematology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
| | - Przemyslaw Juszczynski
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Lech-Maranda
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Angelika Muchowicz
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- *Correspondence: Angelika Muchowicz,
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2
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Patrussi L, Capitani N, Ulivieri C, Manganaro N, Granai M, Cattaneo F, Kabanova A, Mundo L, Gobessi S, Frezzato F, Visentin A, Finetti F, Pelicci PG, D'Elios MM, Trentin L, Semenzato G, Leoncini L, Efremov DG, Baldari CT. p66Shc deficiency in the Eμ-TCL1 mouse model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia enhances leukemogenesis by altering the chemokine receptor landscape. Haematologica 2019; 104:2040-2052. [PMID: 30819907 PMCID: PMC6886430 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2018.209981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [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: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The Shc family adaptor p66Shc acts as a negative regulator of proliferative and survival signals triggered by the B-cell receptor and, by enhancing the production of reactive oxygen species, promotes oxidative stress-dependent apoptosis. Additionally, p66Shc controls the expression and function of chemokine receptors that regulate lymphocyte traffic. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells have a p66Shc expression defect which contributes to their extended survival and correlates with poor prognosis. We analyzed the impact of p66Shc ablation on disease severity and progression in the Eμ-TCL1 mouse model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. We showed that Eμ-TCL1/p66Shc-/- mice developed an aggressive disease that had an earlier onset, occurred at a higher incidence and led to earlier death compared to that in Eμ-TCL1 mice. Eμ-TCL1/p66Shc-/- mice displayed substantial leukemic cell accumulation in both nodal and extranodal sites. The target organ selectivity correlated with upregulation of chemokine receptors whose ligands are expressed therein. This also applied to chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells, where chemokine receptor expression and extent of organ infiltration were found to correlate inversely with these cells' level of p66Shc expression. p66Shc expression declined with disease progression in Eμ-TCL1 mice and could be restored by treatment with the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib. Our results highlight p66Shc deficiency as an important factor in the progression and severity of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and underscore p66Shc expression as a relevant therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nagaja Capitani
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence
| | | | | | - Massimo Granai
- Department of Human Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena
| | | | - Anna Kabanova
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena
| | - Lucia Mundo
- Department of Human Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena
| | - Stefania Gobessi
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste
| | - Federica Frezzato
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua.,Department of Medicine, Hematology and Clinical Immunology Branch, Padua University School of Medicine, Padua
| | - Andrea Visentin
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua.,Department of Medicine, Hematology and Clinical Immunology Branch, Padua University School of Medicine, Padua
| | | | | | - Mario M D'Elios
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence
| | - Livio Trentin
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua.,Department of Medicine, Hematology and Clinical Immunology Branch, Padua University School of Medicine, Padua
| | - Gianpietro Semenzato
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua.,Department of Medicine, Hematology and Clinical Immunology Branch, Padua University School of Medicine, Padua
| | | | - Dimitar G Efremov
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste
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3
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Pyrzynska B, Dwojak M, Zerrouqi A, Morlino G, Zapala P, Miazek N, Zagozdzon A, Bojarczuk K, Bobrowicz M, Siernicka M, Machnicki MM, Gobessi S, Barankiewicz J, Lech-Maranda E, Efremov DG, Juszczynski P, Calado D, Golab J, Winiarska M. FOXO1 promotes resistance of non-Hodgkin lymphomas to anti-CD20-based therapy. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1423183. [PMID: 29721381 PMCID: PMC5927521 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1423183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Diminished overall survival rate of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients treated with a combination regimen of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (R-CHOP) has been recently linked to recurrent somatic mutations activating FOXO1. Despite of the clinical relevance of this finding, the molecular mechanism driving resistance to R-CHOP therapy remains largely unknown. Herein, we investigated the potential role of FOXO1 in the therapeutic efficacy of rituximab, the only targeted therapy included in the R-CHOP regimen. We found CD20 transcription is negatively regulated by FOXO1 in NHL cell lines and in human lymphoma specimens carrying activating mutations of FOXO1. Furthermore, both the expression of exogenous mutants of FOXO1 and the inhibition of AKT led to FOXO1 activation in lymphoma cells, increased binding to MS4A1 promoter and diminished CD20 expression levels. In contrast, a disruption of FOXO1 with CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing (sgFOXO1) resulted in CD20 upregulation, improved the cytotoxicity induced by rituximab and the survival of mice with sgFOXO1 tumors. Accordingly, pharmacological inhibition of FOXO1 activity in primary samples upregulated surface CD20 levels. Importantly, FOXO1 was required for the downregulation of CD20 levels by the clinically tested inhibitors of BTK, SYK, PI3K and AKT. Taken together, these results indicate for the first time that the AKT-unresponsive mutants of FOXO1 are important determinant of cell response to rituximab-induced cytotoxicity, and suggest that the genetic status of FOXO1 together with its transcriptional activity need further attention while designing anti-CD20 antibodies based regimens for the therapy of pre-selected lymphomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Pyrzynska
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michal Dwojak
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Piotr Zapala
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Nina Miazek
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Kamil Bojarczuk
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Marta Siernicka
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin M. Machnicki
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Stefania Gobessi
- Department of Molecular Hematology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
| | - Joanna Barankiewicz
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Lech-Maranda
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dimitar G. Efremov
- Department of Molecular Hematology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
| | - Przemyslaw Juszczynski
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dinis Calado
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, Kings College London, United Kingdom
| | - Jakub Golab
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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4
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Dal Bo M, D'Agaro T, Gobessi S, Zucchetto A, Dereani S, Rossi D, Zaja F, Pozzato G, Di Raimondo F, Gaidano G, Laurenti L, Del Poeta G, Efremov DG, Gattei V, Bomben R. The SIRT1/TP53 axis is activated upon B-cell receptor triggering via miR-132 up-regulation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. Oncotarget 2016; 6:19102-17. [PMID: 26036258 PMCID: PMC4662478 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The B-cell receptor (BCR) plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). By global microRNA profiling of CLL cells stimulated or not stimulated by anti-IgM, significant up-regulation of microRNAs from the miR-132~212 cluster was observed both in IGHV gene unmutated (UM) and mutated (M) CLL cells. Parallel gene expression profiling identified SIRT1, a deacetylase targeting several proteins including TP53, among the top-ranked miR-132 target genes down-regulated upon anti-IgM exposure. The direct regulation of SIRT1 expression by miR-132 was demonstrated using luciferase assays. The reduction of SIRT1 mRNA and protein (P = 0.001) upon anti-IgM stimulation was associated with an increase in TP53 acetylation (P = 0.007), and the parallel up-regulation of the TP53 target gene CDKN1A. Consistently, miR-132 transfections of CLL-like cells resulted in down-regulation of SIRT1 and an induction of a TP53-dependent apoptosis. Finally, in a series of 134 CLL samples, miR-132, when expressed above the median value, associated with prolonged time-to-first-treatment in patients with M CLL (HR = 0.41; P = 0.02). Collectively, the miR-132/SIRT1/TP53 axis was identified as a novel pathway triggered by BCR engagement that further increases the complexity of the interactions between tumor microenvironments and CLL cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Dal Bo
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, I.R.C.C.S., Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Tiziana D'Agaro
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, I.R.C.C.S., Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Stefania Gobessi
- Molecular Hematology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Zucchetto
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, I.R.C.C.S., Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Sara Dereani
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, I.R.C.C.S., Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Davide Rossi
- Division of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Francesco Zaja
- Clinica Ematologica, Centro Trapianti e Terapie Cellulari "Carlo Melzi" DISM, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria S. Maria Misericordia, Udine, Italy
| | - Gabriele Pozzato
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Maggiore General Hospital, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Gianluca Gaidano
- Division of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - Luca Laurenti
- Department of Hematology, Catholic University Hospital A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Del Poeta
- Division of Hematology, S. Eugenio Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Dimitar G Efremov
- Molecular Hematology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Rome, Italy
| | - Valter Gattei
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, I.R.C.C.S., Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Riccardo Bomben
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, I.R.C.C.S., Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
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5
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Biscetti F, Angelini F, Gobessi S, Gremese E, Tolusso B, Efremov D, Ferraccioli G. AB0088 Transgenic ZAP-70+ B Cells Mice Show A More Severe Collagen Antibody Induced Arthritis (CAIA) than Wild Type. Ann Rheum Dis 2016. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-eular.3518] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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6
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Efremov DG, Gobessi S. Signal-dependent and signal-independent functions of the B-cell receptor in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Haematologica 2014; 99:1645-6. [PMID: 25420278 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2014.117754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dimitar G Efremov
- Molecular Hematology Unit, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Gobessi
- Molecular Hematology Unit, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Rome, Italy
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7
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Prete F, Catucci M, Labrada M, Gobessi S, Castiello MC, Bonomi E, Aiuti A, Vermi W, Cancrini C, Metin A, Hambleton S, Bredius R, Notarangelo LD, van der Burg M, Kalinke U, Villa A, Benvenuti F. Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein–mediated actin dynamics control type-I interferon production in plasmacytoid dendritic cells. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 2013. [DOI: 10.1083/jcb2003oia6] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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8
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Prete F, Catucci M, Labrada M, Gobessi S, Castiello MC, Bonomi E, Aiuti A, Vermi W, Cancrini C, Metin A, Hambleton S, Bredius R, Notarangelo LD, van der Burg M, Kalinke U, Villa A, Benvenuti F. Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein-mediated actin dynamics control type-I interferon production in plasmacytoid dendritic cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 210:355-74. [PMID: 23337808 PMCID: PMC3570108 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20120363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein (WASp)–mediated actin polymerization controls intracellular trafficking and compartmentalization of TLR9 ligands in plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Mutations in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) protein (WASp), a regulator of actin dynamics in hematopoietic cells, cause WAS, an X-linked primary immunodeficiency characterized by recurrent infections and a marked predisposition to develop autoimmune disorders. The mechanisms that link actin alterations to the autoimmune phenotype are still poorly understood. We show that chronic activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and elevated type-I interferon (IFN) levels play a role in WAS autoimmunity. WAS patients display increased expression of type-I IFN genes and their inducible targets, alteration in pDCs numbers, and hyperresponsiveness to TLR9. Importantly, ablating IFN-I signaling in WASp null mice rescued chronic activation of conventional DCs, splenomegaly, and colitis. Using WASp-deficient mice, we demonstrated that WASp null pDCs are intrinsically more responsive to multimeric agonist of TLR9 and constitutively secrete type-I IFN but become progressively tolerant to further stimulation. By acute silencing of WASp and actin inhibitors, we show that WASp-mediated actin polymerization controls intracellular trafficking and compartmentalization of TLR9 ligands in pDCs restraining exaggerated activation of the TLR9–IFN-α pathway. Together, these data highlight the role of actin dynamics in pDC innate functions and imply the pDC–IFN-α axis as a player in the onset of autoimmune phenomena in WAS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Prete
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
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Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a common B-cell malignancy characterized by a highly variable clinical course. The behavior of the disease is believed to be influenced by microenvironmental signals that regulate the proliferation and survival of the malignant B-cells. Signals transduced through Toll-like-receptor-9 (TLR9) may play a particularly important role, as they could drive the expansion of a subset of cells that express B-cell receptors reactive with DNA or DNA-containing complexes. Interestingly, leukemic cells from patients with aggressive disease respond more effectively to TLR9 stimulation than their less aggressive counterparts, suggesting that the capacity to respond to TLR9 signals can define distinct prognostic subsets in CLL. The exact mechanism(s) accounting for the variability in the response to TLR9 engagement are still unclear, although important differences have been observed between prognostic groups in terms of downstream signaling events and gene- and miRNA-expression profiles. Understanding the mechanism(s) that underlie the different TLR9 responses should provide further insight in the pathophysiology of CLL and may lead to the identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitar G Efremov
- Molecular Hematology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Campus A. Buzzati-Traverso, Via E. Ramarini 32, I-00016 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy.
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de Paula Careta F, Gobessi S, Panepucci RA, Bojnik E, Morato de Oliveira F, Mazza Matos D, Falcão RP, Laurenti L, Zago MA, Efremov DG. The Aurora A and B kinases are up-regulated in bone marrow-derived chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells and represent potential therapeutic targets. Haematologica 2012; 97:1246-54. [PMID: 22331265 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2011.054668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The malignant B cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia receive signals from the bone marrow and lymph node microenvironments which regulate their survival and proliferation. Characterization of these signals and the pathways that propagate them to the interior of the cell is important for the identification of novel potential targets for therapeutic intervention. DESIGN AND METHODS We compared the gene expression profiles of chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells purified from bone marrow and peripheral blood to identify genes that are induced by the bone marrow microenvironment. Two of the differentially expressed genes were further studied in cell culture experiments and in an animal model to determine whether they could represent appropriate therapeutic targets in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. RESULTS Functional classification analysis revealed that the majority of differentially expressed genes belong to gene ontology categories related to cell cycle and mitosis. Significantly up-regulated genes in bone marrow-derived tumor cells included important cell cycle regulators, such as Aurora A and B, survivin and CDK6. Down-regulation of Aurora A and B by RNA interference inhibited proliferation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia-derived cell lines and induced low levels of apoptosis. A similar effect was observed with the Aurora kinase inhibitor VX-680 in primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells that were induced to proliferate by CpG-oligonucleotides and interleukin-2. Moreover, VX-680 significantly blocked leukemia growth in a mouse model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. CONCLUSIONS Aurora A and B are up-regulated in proliferating chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells and represent potential therapeutic targets in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco de Paula Careta
- Hematology Division and Center for Cell-Based Therapy, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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11
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Tarnani M, Laurenti L, Longo PG, Piccirillo N, Gobessi S, Mannocci A, Marietti S, Sica S, Leone G, Efremov DG. The proliferative response to CpG-ODN stimulation predicts PFS, TTT and OS in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leuk Res 2010; 34:1189-94. [PMID: 20074801 DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2009.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2009] [Revised: 12/21/2009] [Accepted: 12/22/2009] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We recently reported that leukemic cells from IgVH-unmutated/progressive CLL more frequently proliferate in response to CpG-ODN stimulation than their corresponding counterparts. Here we evaluated the prognostic impact of this proliferative response in 91 CLL patients. The proliferative response was highly predictive of PFS, TTT and OS in the whole series and refined prognosis in patients with M-CLL. BCR stimulation modulated the response to CpG-ODN, suggesting that the proliferative capacity of the leukemic cells is related to antigen-encounter history. These data support the hypothesis that the capacity of the leukemic cells to respond to external stimuli influences disease progression in CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Tarnani
- Department of Haematology, Catholic University Hospital "A. Gemelli", Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
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12
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Carsetti L, Laurenti L, Gobessi S, Longo PG, Leone G, Efremov DG. Phosphorylation of the activation loop tyrosines is required for sustained Syk signaling and growth factor-independent B-cell proliferation. Cell Signal 2009; 21:1187-94. [PMID: 19296913 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2009.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2009] [Accepted: 03/09/2009] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The Syk kinase is regarded as a promising target for the treatment of antigen-driven B-cell malignancies, considering its essential role in propagating antigenic stimuli through the B-cell receptor (BCR). In certain common B-cell malignancies Syk is activated even in the absence of BCR engagement, suggesting a wider role for this kinase in lymphomagenesis. In this paper, we have profiled molecular differences between BCR-induced and constitutive Syk activation in terms of phosphorylation of regulatory tyrosine residues, downstream signaling properties and capacity to sustain B-cell proliferation. Analysis of primary chronic lymphocytic leukemia B-cells and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cell lines revealed that constitutive and BCR-induced Syk activation differ with respect to the phosphorylation status of the regulatory tyrosines at positions 352 and 525/526, with only the first site being phosphorylated in the case of constitutive and both sites in the case of BCR-induced Syk activation. Syk phosphorylated only on Y352 is capable of downstream signaling, as evidenced by experiments with a phosphomimetic mutant in which the activation loop tyrosines (YY525/526) were replaced with phenylalanines. However, phosphorylation at YY525/526 was shown to significantly increase the enzymatic activity of Syk and to be required for sustained PLCgamma2, Akt and ERK signaling as well as B-cell transformation. These data demonstrate that constitutively active Syk and Syk activated by BCR crosslinking represent separate stages of Syk activation with distinct signaling properties and transforming capacities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Carsetti
- ICGEB Molecular Hematology Group, Campus A. Buzzati-Traverso, Via E. Ramarini 32, Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy
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13
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Gobessi S, Laurenti L, Longo PG, Carsetti L, Berno V, Sica S, Leone G, Efremov DG. Inhibition of constitutive and BCR-induced Syk activation downregulates Mcl-1 and induces apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells. Leukemia 2008; 23:686-97. [DOI: 10.1038/leu.2008.346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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14
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Efremov DG, Gobessi S, Longo PG. Signaling pathways activated by antigen-receptor engagement in chronic lymphocytic leukemia B-cells. Autoimmun Rev 2007; 7:102-8. [PMID: 18035318 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2007.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Several features of the B-cell receptor (BCR) have emerged as major prognostic factors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In particular, the absence of somatic mutations in the immunoglobulin variable region genes and expression of the protein tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 are strongly associated with an aggressive clinical course, and both features have been correlated with a greater capacity of the BCR to transmit antigen-induced signals. Additionally, differences in BCR structure and reactivity indicate that CLL B-cells from the two prognostic subsets may recognize different types of antigens. Antigens that are not rapidly internalized induce sustained BCR signaling that can promote the survival of the leukemic B-cells. The BCR signal is initially transmitted by the Syk kinase and modulated by ZAP-70, which shows inefficient or absent tyrosine kinase activation in B-cells. However, both ZAP-70 expression and sustained BCR engagement have been associated with prolonged activation of the Akt and ERK kinases, which is required for the induction of several antiapoptotic proteins, including Mcl-1, Bcl-xL and XIAP. Therefore, targeting components along the BCR signaling pathway may be a promising strategy for the treatment of CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitar G Efremov
- Molecular Hematology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, Monterotondo Outstation, CNR Campus A. Buzzati-Traverso, Rome, Italy.
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Gobessi S, Laurenti L, Longo PG, Sica S, Leone G, Efremov DG. ZAP-70 enhances B-cell-receptor signaling despite absent or inefficient tyrosine kinase activation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma B cells. Blood 2006; 109:2032-9. [PMID: 17038529 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2006-03-011759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of ZAP-70 is an important negative prognostic factor in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). This protein tyrosine kinase is a key mediator of T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling and is structurally homologous to Syk, which plays an analogous role in B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling. Recent studies indicate that ZAP-70 may participate in BCR signaling as well, but the mechanism of action is not completely understood. We have now compared antigen receptor-induced activation of ZAP-70 in B cells and T cells by analyzing phosphorylation of critical regulatory tyrosine residues. We show that BCR-mediated activation of ZAP-70 is very inefficient in CLL and lymphoma B cells and is negligible when compared to activation of Syk. Despite the inefficient catalytic activation, the ability of ZAP-70 to recruit downstream signaling molecules in response to antigen receptor stimulation appeared relatively preserved. Moreover, ectopic expression of ZAP-70 enhanced and prolonged activation of several key mediators of BCR signaling, such as the Syk, ERK, and Akt kinases, and decreased the rate of ligand-mediated BCR internalization. We conclude that the role of ZAP-70 in BCR signaling is quite distinct from its role in TCR signaling and is likely mediated by inhibition of events that terminate the signaling response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Gobessi
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) Outstation-Monterotondo, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Campus Adriano Buzzati-Traverso, Rome, Italy
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Longo PG, Laurenti L, Gobessi S, Petlickovski A, Pelosi M, Chiusolo P, Sica S, Leone G, Efremov DG. The Akt signaling pathway determines the different proliferative capacity of chronic lymphocytic leukemia B-cells from patients with progressive and stable disease. Leukemia 2006; 21:110-20. [PMID: 17024114 DOI: 10.1038/sj.leu.2404417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B-cells are hyporesponsive to many proliferative signals that induce activation of normal B-lymphocytes. However, a heterogeneous response has recently been observed with immunostimulatory CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN). We now show that CpG ODN induce proliferation mainly in CLL B-cells from patients with progressive disease and unmutated immunoglobulin V(H) genes, whereas G(1)/S cell cycle arrest and apoptosis are induced in leukemic B-cells from stable/V(H) mutated CLL. Examination of early signaling events demonstrated that all CLL B-cells respond to CpG ODN stimulation by degradation of the NF-kappaB inhibitor IkappaB and activation of the Akt, ERK, JNK and p38 MAPK kinases, but the magnitude and duration of the signaling response was greater in the proliferating cases. Pharmacological inhibition of these pathways showed that simultaneous activation of Akt, ERK and JNK is required for cell cycle progression and proliferation. Conversely, introduction of constitutively active Akt in nonproliferating CLL B-cells resulted in induction of cyclin A following CpG ODN stimulation, indicating that increased Akt activation is sufficient to overcome the hyporesponsiveness of these cells to proliferative signals. Thus, the magnitude of Akt signaling may determine the distinct responses observed in leukemic B-cells belonging to the different prognostic subgroups.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- B-Lymphocytes/immunology
- B-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- B-Lymphocytes/pathology
- Cell Cycle
- Cell Proliferation
- Cyclins/biosynthesis
- Disease Progression
- Female
- Genes, Immunoglobulin
- Humans
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/immunology
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/metabolism
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/pathology
- MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Oligodeoxyribonucleotides/immunology
- Oligodeoxyribonucleotides/pharmacology
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
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Affiliation(s)
- P G Longo
- ICGEB Hematology Group, Monterotondo-Outstation, CNR Campus Adriano Buzzati-Traverso, Rome, Italy
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Monte M, Simonatto M, Peche LY, Bublik DR, Gobessi S, Pierotti MA, Rodolfo M, Schneider C. MAGE-A tumor antigens target p53 transactivation function through histone deacetylase recruitment and confer resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006; 103:11160-5. [PMID: 16847267 PMCID: PMC1544058 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0510834103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The MAGE gene family is characterized by a conserved domain (MAGE Homology Domain). A subset of highly homologous MAGE genes (group A; MAGE-A) belong to the chromosome X-clustered cancer/testis antigens. MAGE-A genes are normally expressed in the human germ line and overexpressed in various tumor types; however, their biological function is largely unknown. Here we present evidence indicating that MageA2 protein, belonging to the MAGE-A subfamily, confers wild-type-p53-sensitive resistance to etoposide (ET) by inducing a novel p53 inhibitory loop involving recruitment of histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) to MageA2/p53 complex, thus strongly down-regulating p53 transactivation function. In fact, enhanced MageA2 protein levels, in addition to ET resistance, correlate with impaired acetylation of both p53 and histones surrounding p53-binding sites. Association between MAGE-A expression levels and resistance to ET treatment is clearly shown in short-term cell lines obtained from melanoma biopsies harboring wild-type-p53, whereas cells naturally, or siRNA-mediated expressing low MAGE-A levels, correlate with enhanced p53-dependent sensitivity to ET. In addition, combined trichostatin A/ET treatment in melanoma cells expressing high MAGE-A levels reestablishes p53 response and reverts the chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Monte
- *Laboratorio Nazionale del Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie, Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34012 Trieste, Italy
| | - Marta Simonatto
- *Laboratorio Nazionale del Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie, Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34012 Trieste, Italy
| | - Leticia Y. Peche
- *Laboratorio Nazionale del Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie, Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34012 Trieste, Italy
| | - Debora R. Bublik
- *Laboratorio Nazionale del Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie, Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34012 Trieste, Italy
| | - Stefania Gobessi
- *Laboratorio Nazionale del Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie, Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34012 Trieste, Italy
| | - Marco A. Pierotti
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy; and
| | - Monica Rodolfo
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via G. Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy; and
| | - Claudio Schneider
- *Laboratorio Nazionale del Consorzio Interuniversitario per le Biotecnologie, Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34012 Trieste, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, Università di Udine, p.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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Laurenti L, Petlickovski A, Rumi C, Gobessi S, Piccioni P, Tarnani M, Puggioni P, Marietti S, Sica S, Leone G, Efremov DG. Comparison of ZAP-70/Syk mRNA levels with immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene mutation status and disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Haematologica 2005; 90:1533-40. [PMID: 16266901] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The protein tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 has recently emerged as a major prognostic indicator in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). ZAP-70 is structurally and functionally homologous to Syk, a key mediator of B-cell receptor signaling. We therefore evaluated ZAP-70 expression in CLL B cells using Syk as an intracellular standard. DESIGN AND METHODS The relative amounts of ZAP-70 and Syk were determined in purified B cells from 92 CLL patients using a novel reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedure that co-amplifies both transcripts with equal efficiency. The ZAP-70/Syk mRNA ratio was correlated with VH gene mutation status, median treatment-free survival and FACS analysis of ZAP-70 expression. RESULTS ZAP-70 was expressed in the majority of cases with unmutated VH genes (88%), but also at lower levels in a substantial fraction of cases with mutated VH genes (44%). High levels of ZAP-70, defined as ZAP-70/Syk mRNA ratios above 0.25, were observed mainly in cases with unmutated VH genes and correlated with short treatment-free survival. In contrast, no difference was observed in the median treatment-free survival between patients with low ZAP-70/Syk ratios (0.05-0.25) and patients with no or negligible ZAP-70 expression (ZAP-70/Syk<0.05). In 73 cases ZAP-70 expression was investigated by RT/PCR and FACS analysis; concordance with VH gene mutation status was 86% and 71%, respectively. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS ZAP-70 is frequently expressed in CLL B cells, but only high levels correlate with unmutated VH gene status and progressive disease. Expression of ZAP-70 can be accurately assessed by analysis of the ZAP-70/Syk mRNA ratio, thus providing an alternative to FACS analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Laurenti
- Department of Hematology, Catholic University Hospial A. Gemelli, Rome, Italy.
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Abstract
Among the set of genes expressed during the quiescent G0 phase of the cell cycle (gas genes), gas1 encodes for a GPI anchor protein associated to the plasma membrane, which is able to induce growth arrest when overexpressed in proliferating fibroblasts. In this report we describe the isolation and characterization of a gas1 Caenorhabditis elegans homolog, phas-1, that seems to be transcribed as an operon together with a gene encoding for a protein similar to human acid ceramidases. Phas-1 structure is very similar to its mammalian homolog conserving almost all cysteine residues and it is expressed in the pharynx from its early formation, in the two-fold embryo, until the adult stage. Surprisingly, while phas-1 is expressed in all developmental stages, with the exception of the dauer larva, the ceramidase-like encoding gene, co-expressed in the same operon together with phas-1, is absent in embryos and is very abundantly expressed in the dauer larva. Overexpression of phas-1 in growing NIH3T3 fibroblasts is able to inhibit the S-phase entry in a similar manner as its murine homolog. On the other hand, when phas-1 is overexpressed or ablated in C. elegans, no specific phenotype due to its transcription alteration can be observed, despite its localized expression suggesting a role in pharynx function or development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Agostoni
- Laboratorio Nazionale C.I.B., Area Science Park, Padriciano, 99, 34012, Trieste, Italy
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Abstract
The Gas3/PMP22 protein family is characterized by tetraspan transmembrane proteins. The gas3/PMP22 gene is highly expressed in Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system, and different alterations of this gene are associated with hereditary demyelinating neuropathies, such as the Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A, the Dejerine-Sottas syndrome and the Hereditary Liability to Pressure Palsies (HNPP).Here, we report on the identification of at least one member of the Gas3/PMP22 family in the nematode C. elegans (C01C10.1b). C01C10.1b shares 36% of identical amino acids with the human Gas3/PMP22 and is characterized by four hydrophobic putative transmembrane domains. It lacks the typical N-linked glycosylation consensus in the first extracellular loop. C01C10.1b is transcribed as an operon downstream to the gene C01C10.1a, which encodes for a putative tetraspan protein with less conserved homology with the Gas3/PMP22 family. Interestingly, C01C10.1a contains three N-glycosylation sites at the C-terminus. Both genes are expressed in different nematode developmental stages and in the adults. The characterization of one member of the gas3/PMP22 family in C. elegans gives the opportunity to use this model organism to investigate the role of gas3/PMP22 in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation and its relation to the hereditary neurodegenerative diseases in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Agostoni
- Laboratorio Nazionale C.I.B., Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34012, Trieste, Italy.
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