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Petroni M, La Monica V, Fabretti F, Augusto M, Battaglini D, Polonara F, Di Giulio S, Giannini G. The Multiple Faces of the MRN Complex: Roles in Medulloblastoma and Beyond. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3599. [PMID: 37509263 PMCID: PMC10377613 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143599] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypomorphic mutations in MRN complex genes are frequently found in cancer, supporting their role as oncosuppressors. However, unlike canonical oncosuppressors, MRN proteins are often overexpressed in tumor tissues, where they actively work to counteract DSBs induced by both oncogene-dependent RS and radio-chemotherapy. Moreover, at the same time, MRN genes are also essential genes, since the constitutive KO of each component leads to embryonic lethality. Therefore, even though it is paradoxical, MRN genes may work as oncosuppressive, oncopromoting, and essential genes. In this review, we discussed how alterations in the MRN complex impact the physiopathology of cancer, in light of our recent discoveries on the gene-dosage-dependent effect of NBS1 in Medulloblastoma. These updates aim to understand whether MRN complex can be realistically used as a prognostic/predictive marker and/or as a therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer patients in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialaura Petroni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica La Monica
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Fabretti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Mariaconcetta Augusto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Damiana Battaglini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Polonara
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Di Giulio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Petroni M, Fabretti F, Giulio SD, Robilant VND, Monica VL, Moretti M, Belardinilli F, Bufalieri F, Anna C, Paci P, Corsi A, Smaele ED, Coni S, Canettieri G, Marcotullio LD, Wang ZQ, Giannini G. A gene dosage-dependent effect unveils NBS1 as both a haploinsufficient tumour suppressor and an essential gene for SHH-medulloblastoma. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2022; 48:e12837. [PMID: 35839783 PMCID: PMC9542137 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12837] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Inherited or somatic mutations in the MRE11, RAD50 and NBN genes increase the incidence of tumours, including medulloblastoma (MB). On the other hand, MRE11, RAD50 and NBS1 protein components of the MRN complex are often overexpressed and sometimes essential in cancer. In order to solve the apparent conundrum about the oncosuppressive or oncopromoting role of the MRN complex, we explored the functions of NBS1 in a MB prone animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS We generated and analysed mono- or biallelic deletion of the Nbn gene in the context of the SmoA1 transgenic mouse, a SHH-dependent MB prone animal model. We used normal and tumour tissue from these animal models, primary granule cell progenitors (GCPs) from genetically modified animals, and NBS1-depleted primary MB cells, to uncover the effects of NBS1-depletion by RNA-Seq, by biochemical characterization of the SHH-pathway and the DNA damage response (DDR) as well as on the growth and clonogenic properties of GCPs. RESULTS We found that monoallelic Nbn deletion increases SmoA1-dependent MB incidence. In addition to a defective DDR, Nbn+/- GCPs show increased clonogenicity compared to Nbn+/+ GCPs, dependent on an enhanced Notch signalling. In contrast, full NbnKO impairs MB development both in SmoA1 mice and in a SHH-driven tumour allograft. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that Nbn is haploinsufficient for SHH-MB development while full NbnKO is epistatic on SHH-driven MB development, thus revealing a gene dosage-dependent effect of Nbn inactivation on SHH-MB development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialaura Petroni
- Dept. of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.,Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Marta Moretti
- Dept. of Experimental Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Coppa Anna
- Dept. of Experimental Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Paci
- Dep. of Computer Engineering, Automation and Management, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.,Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science Antonio Ruberti, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Corsi
- Dept. of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico De Smaele
- Dept. of Experimental Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Sonia Coni
- Dept. of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Canettieri
- Dept. of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.,Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Zhao-Qi Wang
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) Beutenbergstrasse 11, Jena, Germany
| | - Giuseppe Giannini
- Dept. of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.,Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
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