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Williams BN, Draper A, Lang PF, Lewis TR, Smith AL, Mayerl SJ, Rougié M, Simon JM, Arshavsky VY, Greenwald SH, Gamm DM, Pinilla I, Philpot BD. Heterogeneity in the progression of retinal pathologies in mice harboring patient mimicking Impg2 mutations. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:448-464. [PMID: 37975905 PMCID: PMC10877459 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad199] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Biallelic mutations in interphotoreceptor matrix proteoglycan 2 (IMPG2) in humans cause retinitis pigmentosa (RP) with early macular involvement, albeit the disease progression varies widely due to genetic heterogeneity and IMPG2 mutation type. There are currently no treatments for IMPG2-RP. To aid preclinical studies toward eventual treatments, there is a need to better understand the progression of disease pathology in appropriate animal models. Toward this goal, we developed mouse models with patient mimicking homozygous frameshift (T807Ter) or missense (Y250C) Impg2 mutations, as well as mice with a homozygous frameshift mutation (Q244Ter) designed to completely prevent IMPG2 protein expression, and characterized the trajectory of their retinal pathologies across postnatal development until late adulthood. We found that the Impg2T807Ter/T807Ter and Impg2Q244Ter/Q244Ter mice exhibited early onset gliosis, impaired photoreceptor outer segment maintenance, appearance of subretinal deposits near the optic disc, disruption of the outer retina, and neurosensorial detachment, whereas the Impg2Y250C/Y250C mice exhibited minimal retinal pathology. These results demonstrate the importance of mutation type in disease progression in IMPG2-RP and provide a toolkit and preclinical data for advancing therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany N Williams
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Adam Draper
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Patrick F Lang
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Tylor R Lewis
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, United States
| | - Audrey L Smith
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Steven J Mayerl
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, United States
| | - Marie Rougié
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Jeremy M Simon
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Vadim Y Arshavsky
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, United States
| | | | - David M Gamm
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, United States
| | - Isabel Pinilla
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lozano Blesa University Hospital, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
- Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza 50009, Spain
- Department of Surgery, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
| | - Benjamin D Philpot
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
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Rustgi N, Maria A, Toumbacaris N, Zhao H, Kargus K, Bryant M, Waksmundzki A, Aricescu I, Lefkowitz RA, Li BT, Chou J, Capanu M, de Stanchina E, Misale S, Shia J, Yaeger R. Combined RAF and MEK Inhibition to Treat Activated Non-V600 BRAF-Altered Advanced Cancers. Oncologist 2024; 29:15-24. [PMID: 37616543 PMCID: PMC10769795 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancers with non-V600 BRAF-activating alterations have no matched therapy. Preclinical data suggest that these tumors depend on ERK signaling; however, clinical response to MEK/ERK inhibitors has overall been low. We hypothesized that a narrow therapeutic index, driven by ERK inhibition in healthy (wild-type) tissues, limits the efficacy of these inhibitors. As these mutants signal as activated dimers, we further hypothesized that RAF inhibitors given concurrently would improve the therapeutic index by opposing ERK inhibition in normal tissues and not activate ERK in the already activated tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using cell lines and patient-derived xenografts, we evaluated the effect of RAF inhibition, alone and in combination with MEK/ERK inhibitors. We then undertook a phase I/II clinical trial of a higher dose of the MEK inhibitor binimetinib combined with the RAF inhibitor encorafenib in patients with advanced cancer with activating non-V600 BRAF alterations. RESULTS RAF inhibition led to modest inhibition of signaling and growth in activated non-V600 BRAF preclinical models and allowed higher dose of MEK/ERK inhibitors in vivo for more profound tumor regression. Fifteen patients received binimetinib 60 mg twice daily plus encorafenib 450 mg daily (6 gastrointestinal primaries, 6 genitourinary primaries, 3 melanoma, and 2 lung cancer; 7 BRAF mutations and 8 BRAF fusions). Treatment was well tolerated without dose-limiting toxicities. One patient had a confirmed partial response, 8 had stable disease, and 6 had radiographic or clinical progression as best response. On-treatment biopsies revealed incomplete ERK pathway inhibition. CONCLUSION Combined RAF and MEK inhibition does not sufficiently inhibit activated non-V600 BRAF-mutant tumors in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naryan Rustgi
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ann Maria
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicolas Toumbacaris
- Department of Epidemiology-Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - HuiYong Zhao
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katherine Kargus
- Department of Nursing, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Morgan Bryant
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Ilinca Aricescu
- Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert A Lefkowitz
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bob T Li
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joanne Chou
- Department of Epidemiology-Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marinela Capanu
- Department of Epidemiology-Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elisa de Stanchina
- Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sandra Misale
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jinru Shia
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rona Yaeger
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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Preiss NK, Kamal Y, Wilkins OM, Li C, Kolling FW, Trask HW, Usherwood YK, Cheng C, Frost HR, Usherwood EJ. Characterizing control of memory CD8 T cell differentiation by BTB-ZF transcription factor Zbtb20. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201683. [PMID: 37414528 PMCID: PMC10326419 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201683] [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: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the BTB-ZF transcription factor family regulate the immune system. Our laboratory identified that family member Zbtb20 contributes to the differentiation, recall responses, and metabolism of CD8 T cells. Here, we report a characterization of the transcriptional and epigenetic signatures controlled by Zbtb20 at single-cell resolution during the effector and memory phases of the CD8 T cell response. Without Zbtb20, transcriptional programs associated with memory CD8 T cell formation were up-regulated throughout the CD8 T response. A signature of open chromatin was associated with genes controlling T cell activation, consistent with the known impact on differentiation. In addition, memory CD8 T cells lacking Zbtb20 were characterized by open chromatin regions with overrepresentation of AP-1 transcription factor motifs and elevated RNA- and protein-level expressions of the corresponding AP-1 components. Finally, we describe motifs and genomic annotations from the DNA targets of Zbtb20 in CD8 T cells identified by cleavage under targets and release under nuclease (CUT&RUN). Together, these data establish the transcriptional and epigenetic networks contributing to the control of CD8 T cell responses by Zbtb20.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas K Preiss
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Yasmin Kamal
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Owen M Wilkins
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
- Genomics and Molecular Biology Shared Resource, Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Chenyang Li
- Genomic Medicine Department, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Fred W Kolling
- Genomics and Molecular Biology Shared Resource, Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Heidi W Trask
- Genomics and Molecular Biology Shared Resource, Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Young-Kwang Usherwood
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Chao Cheng
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- The Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hildreth R Frost
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Edward J Usherwood
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
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Reis-Filho JS, Kather JN. Overcoming the challenges to implementation of artificial intelligence in pathology. J Natl Cancer Inst 2023; 115:608-612. [PMID: 36929936 PMCID: PMC10248832 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djad048] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathologists worldwide are facing remarkable challenges with increasing workloads and lack of time to provide consistently high-quality patient care. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) to digital whole-slide images has the potential of democratizing the access to expert pathology and affordable biomarkers by supporting pathologists in the provision of timely and accurate diagnosis as well as supporting oncologists by directly extracting prognostic and predictive biomarkers from tissue slides. The long-awaited adoption of AI in pathology, however, has not materialized, and the transformation of pathology is happening at a much slower pace than that observed in other fields (eg, radiology). Here, we provide a critical summary of the developments in digital and computational pathology in the last 10 years, outline key hurdles and ways to overcome them, and provide a perspective for AI-supported precision oncology in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge S Reis-Filho
- Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jakob Nikolas Kather
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Else Kroener Fresenius Center for Digital Health, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Pathology and Data Analytics, Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’s, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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