1
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Xu M, Lin MC, Li ZH. Interferon-γ-induced GBP1 is an inhibitor of human papillomavirus 18. BMC Womens Health 2024; 24:240. [PMID: 38622605 PMCID: PMC11017553 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03057-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an important factor leading to cervical cell abnormalities. 90% of cervical cancers are closely associated with persistent infection of high-risk HPV, with the highest correlation with HPV16 and 18. Currently available vaccines and antivirals have limited effectiveness and coverage. Guanylate binding protein 1 (GBP1) was induced by interferon gamma and involved in many important cellular processes such as clearance of various microbial pathogens. However, whether GBP1 can inhibit human papillomavirus infection is unclear. RESULTS In this study, we found that GBP1 can effectively degrade HPV18 E6, possibly through its GTPase activity or other pathways, and E6 protein degrades GBP1 through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway to achieve immune escape. CONCLUSION Therefore, GBP1 is an effector of IFN-γ anti-HPV activity. Our findings provided new insights into the treatment of HPV 18 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Xu
- Laboratory of Prenatal Diagnosis, Mindong Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Ningde, 355099, China
| | - Miao-Chun Lin
- Laboratory of Prenatal Diagnosis, Mindong Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Ningde, 355099, China
- Central laboratory, Mindong Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Ningde, 355099, China
| | - Zhao-Hui Li
- Laboratory of Prenatal Diagnosis, Mindong Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Ningde, 355099, China.
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2
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Martínez-López MF, Muslin C, Kyriakidis NC. STINGing Defenses: Unmasking the Mechanisms of DNA Oncovirus-Mediated Immune Escape. Viruses 2024; 16:574. [PMID: 38675916 PMCID: PMC11054469 DOI: 10.3390/v16040574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA oncoviruses represent an intriguing subject due to their involvement in oncogenesis. These viruses have evolved mechanisms to manipulate the host immune response, facilitating their persistence and actively contributing to carcinogenic processes. This paper describes the complex interactions between DNA oncoviruses and the innate immune system, with a particular emphasis on the cGAS-STING pathway. Exploring these interactions highlights that DNA oncoviruses strategically target and subvert this pathway, exploiting its vulnerabilities for their own survival and proliferation within the host. Understanding these interactions lays the foundation for identifying potential therapeutic interventions. Herein, we sought to contribute to the ongoing efforts in advancing our understanding of the innate immune system in oncoviral pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayra F Martínez-López
- Cancer Research Group (CRG), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de las Américas, Quito 170503, Ecuador;
| | - Claire Muslin
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de las Américas, Quito 170503, Ecuador;
| | - Nikolaos C. Kyriakidis
- Cancer Research Group (CRG), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de las Américas, Quito 170503, Ecuador;
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3
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Vallejo-Ruiz V, Gutiérrez-Xicotencatl L, Medina-Contreras O, Lizano M. Molecular aspects of cervical cancer: a pathogenesis update. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1356581. [PMID: 38567159 PMCID: PMC10985348 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1356581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer (CC) is a significant health problem, especially in low-income countries. Functional studies on the human papillomavirus have generated essential advances in the knowledge of CC. However, many unanswered questions remain. This mini-review discusses the latest results on CC pathogenesis, HPV oncogenesis, and molecular changes identified through next-generation technologies. Interestingly, the percentage of samples with HPV genome integrations correlates with the degree of the cervical lesions, suggesting a role in the development of CC. Also, new functions have been described for the viral oncoproteins E5, E6, and E7, resulting in the acquisition and maintenance of cancer hallmarks, including proliferation, immune response evasion, apoptosis, and genomic instability. Remarkably, E5 oncoprotein affects signaling pathways involved in the expression of interferon-induced genes and EGFR-induced proliferation, while E6 and E7 oncoproteins regulate the DNA damage repair and cell cycle continuity pathways. Furthermore, next-generation technologies provide vast amounts of information, increasing our knowledge of changes in the genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and epigenome in CC. These studies have identified novel molecular traits associated with disease susceptibility, degree of progression, treatment response, and survival as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Vallejo-Ruiz
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Lourdes Gutiérrez-Xicotencatl
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Oscar Medina-Contreras
- Epidemiology, Endocrinology & Nutrition Research Unit, Mexico Children’s Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Marcela Lizano
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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4
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Rodriguez I, Rossi NM, Keskus AG, Xie Y, Ahmad T, Bryant A, Lou H, Paredes JG, Milano R, Rao N, Tulsyan S, Boland JF, Luo W, Liu J, O'Hanlon T, Bess J, Mukhina V, Gaykalova D, Yuki Y, Malik L, Billingsley KJ, Blauwendraat C, Carrington M, Yeager M, Mirabello L, Kolmogorov M, Dean M. Insights into the mechanisms and structure of breakage-fusion-bridge cycles in cervical cancer using long-read sequencing. Am J Hum Genet 2024; 111:544-561. [PMID: 38307027 PMCID: PMC10940022 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, has few approved targeted therapeutics, and is the most common cause of cancer death in low-resource countries. We characterized 19 cervical and four head and neck cancer cell lines using long-read DNA and RNA sequencing and identified the HPV types, HPV integration sites, chromosomal alterations, and cancer driver mutations. Structural variation analysis revealed telomeric deletions associated with DNA inversions resulting from breakage-fusion-bridge (BFB) cycles. BFB is a common mechanism of chromosomal alterations in cancer, and our study applies long-read sequencing to this important chromosomal rearrangement type. Analysis of the inversion sites revealed staggered ends consistent with exonuclease digestion of the DNA after breakage. Some BFB events are complex, involving inter- or intra-chromosomal insertions or rearrangements. None of the BFB breakpoints had telomere sequences added to resolve the dicentric chromosomes, and only one BFB breakpoint showed chromothripsis. Five cell lines have a chromosomal region 11q BFB event, with YAP1-BIRC3-BIRC2 amplification. Indeed, YAP1 amplification is associated with a 10-year-earlier age of diagnosis of cervical cancer and is three times more common in African American women. This suggests that individuals with cervical cancer and YAP1-BIRC3-BIRC2 amplification, especially those of African ancestry, might benefit from targeted therapy. In summary, we uncovered valuable insights into the mechanisms and consequences of BFB cycles in cervical cancer using long-read sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Rodriguez
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Nicole M Rossi
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ayse G Keskus
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Yi Xie
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Tanveer Ahmad
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Asher Bryant
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Hong Lou
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Jesica Godinez Paredes
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Rose Milano
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Nina Rao
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA; Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sonam Tulsyan
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Joseph F Boland
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Wen Luo
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Jia Liu
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Tim O'Hanlon
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Jazmyn Bess
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Vera Mukhina
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daria Gaykalova
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Marlene & Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yuko Yuki
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Laksh Malik
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Cornelis Blauwendraat
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA; Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mary Carrington
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA; Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Meredith Yeager
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Lisa Mirabello
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Mikhail Kolmogorov
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Michael Dean
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
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5
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Khoo A, Boyer M, Jafri Z, Makeham T, Pham T, Khachigian LM, Floros P, Dowling E, Fedder K, Shonka D, Garneau J, O'Meara CH. Human Papilloma Virus Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and the Immune System: Pathogenesis, Immunotherapy and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2798. [PMID: 38474047 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), involves the palatine tonsils, soft palate, base of tongue, and uvula, with the ability to spread to adjacent subsites. Personalized treatment strategies for Human Papillomavirus-associated squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (HPV+OPSCC) are yet to be established. In this article, we summarise our current understanding of the pathogenesis of HPV+OPSCC, the intrinsic role of the immune system, current ICI clinical trials, and the potential role of small molecule immunotherapy in HPV+OPSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Khoo
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Canberra Health Services, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - M Boyer
- Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Z Jafri
- Vascular Biology and Translational Research, Department of Pathology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - T Makeham
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Canberra Health Services, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- ANU School of Medicine & Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - T Pham
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Canberra Health Services, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- ANU School of Medicine & Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - L M Khachigian
- Vascular Biology and Translational Research, Department of Pathology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - P Floros
- St Vincent's Hospital, 390 Victoria Street, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - E Dowling
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - K Fedder
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - D Shonka
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - J Garneau
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - C H O'Meara
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Canberra Health Services, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- ANU School of Medicine & Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
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6
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Jones RN, Miyauchi S, Roy S, Boutros N, Mayadev JS, Mell LK, Califano JA, Venuti A, Sharabi AB. Computational and AI-driven 3D structural analysis of human papillomavirus (HPV) oncoproteins E5, E6, and E7 reveal significant divergence of HPV E5 between low-risk and high-risk genotypes. Virology 2024; 590:109946. [PMID: 38147693 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2023.109946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
There are over 220 identified genotypes of Human papillomavirus (HPV), and the HPV genome encodes 3 major oncogenes, E5, E6, and E7. Conservation and divergence in protein sequence and function between low-risk versus high-risk oncogenic HPV genotypes has not been fully characterized. Here, we used modern computational and structural folding algorithms to perform a comparative analysis of HPV E5, E6, and E7 between multiple low risk and high risk genotypes. We first identified significantly greater sequence divergence in E5 between low- and high-risk genotypes compared to E6 and E7. Next, we used AlphaFold to model the structure of papillomavirus proteins and complexes with high confidence, including some with no established consensus structure. We observed that HPV E5, but not E6 or E7, had a dramatically different 3D structure between low-risk and high-risk genotypes. To our knowledge, this is the first comparative analysis of HPV proteins using Alphafold artificial intelligence (AI) system. The marked differences in E5 sequence and structure in high-risk HPVs may contribute in important and underappreciated ways to the development of HPV-associated cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley N Jones
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Sayuri Miyauchi
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Souvick Roy
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Nathalie Boutros
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Jyoti S Mayadev
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Loren K Mell
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA; Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Joseph A Califano
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Aldo Venuti
- HPV-UNIT-UOSD Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrew B Sharabi
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA; Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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7
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Luo X, Qiu Y, Fitzsimonds ZR, Wang Q, Chen Q, Lei YL. Immune escape of head and neck cancer mediated by the impaired MHC-I antigen presentation pathway. Oncogene 2024; 43:388-394. [PMID: 38177410 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02912-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Tumor immune evasion is a hallmark of Head and Neck Cancers. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the first-line setting has transformed the management of these tumors. Unfortunately, the response rate of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas (HNSCC) to ICIs is below 15%, regardless of the human papillomavirus (HPV) status, which might be partially related with impaired antigen presentation machinery (APM). Mechanistically, HNSCC cells are usually defective in the expression of MHC-I associated APM, while this transcriptional pathway is critical for the activation of tumor-killing effector T-cells. To specifically illuminate the phenomenon and seek for therapeutic strategies, this review summarizes the most recently identified role of genetic and functional dysregulation of the MHC-I pathway, specifically through changes at the genetic, epigenetic, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels, which substantially contributes to HNSCC immune escape and ICI resistance. Several treatment modalities can be potentially exploited to restore APM signaling in tumors, which improves anti-tumor immunity through the activation of interferons, vaccines or rimantadine against HPV and the inhibition of EGFR, SHP-2, PI3K and MEK. Additionally, the combinatorial use of radiotherapy or cytotoxic agents with ICIs can synergize to potentiate APM signaling. Future directions would include further dissection of MHC-I related APM signaling in HNSCC and whether reversing this inhibition in combination with ICIs would elicit a more robust immune response leading to improved response rates in HNSCC. Therapeutic approaches to restore the MHC-I antigen presentation machinery in Head and Neck Cancer. (Red color texts represent the according strategies and the outcomes).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan Qiu
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zackary R Fitzsimonds
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rogel Cancer Center, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Qiuhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Qianming Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Yu Leo Lei
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rogel Cancer Center, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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8
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Kinney BLC, Gunti S, Kansal V, Parrish CJ, Saba NF, Teng Y, Henry MK, Su FY, Kwong GA, Schmitt NC. Rescue of NLRC5 expression restores antigen processing machinery in head and neck cancer cells lacking functional STAT1 and p53. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:10. [PMID: 38231444 PMCID: PMC10794329 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03589-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The antigen processing machinery (APM) components needed for a tumor cell to present an antigen to a T cell are expressed at low levels in solid tumors, constituting an important mechanism of immune escape. More than most other solid tumors, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells tend to have low APM expression, rendering them insensitive to immune checkpoint blockade and most other forms of immunotherapy. In HNSCC, this APM deficiency is largely driven by high levels of EGFR and SHP2, leading to low expression and activation of STAT1; however, recent studies suggest that p53, which is often mutated in HNSCCs, may also play a role. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the extent to which STAT1 and p53 individually regulate APM component expression in HNSCC cells. We found that in cells lacking functional p53, APM expression could still be induced by interferon-gamma or DNA-damaging chemotherapy (cisplatin) as long as STAT1 expression remained intact; when both transcription factors were knocked down, APM component expression was abolished. When we bypassed these deficient pathways by rescuing the expression of NLRC5, APM expression was also restored. These results suggest that dual loss of functional STAT1 and p53 may render HNSCC cells incapable of processing and presenting antigens, but rescue of downstream NLRC5 expression may be an attractive strategy for restoring sensitivity to T cell-based immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan L C Kinney
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer Program, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, 550 Peachtree Street NE, 11Th Floor Otolaryngology, Atlanta, GA, 30308, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sreenivasulu Gunti
- National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Vikash Kansal
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer Program, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, 550 Peachtree Street NE, 11Th Floor Otolaryngology, Atlanta, GA, 30308, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Nabil F Saba
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yong Teng
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Fang-Yi Su
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Gabriel A Kwong
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nicole C Schmitt
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Cancer Program, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, 550 Peachtree Street NE, 11Th Floor Otolaryngology, Atlanta, GA, 30308, USA.
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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9
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Smahel M, Nunvar J. Bioinformatics analysis of immune characteristics in tumors with alternative carcinogenesis pathways induced by human papillomaviruses. Virol J 2023; 20:287. [PMID: 38049810 PMCID: PMC10696676 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02241-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) induce a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and anogenital cancers, particularly cervical cancer (CC). The major viral proteins that contribute to tumorigenesis are the E6 and E7 oncoproteins, whose expression is usually enhanced after the integration of viral DNA into the host genome. Recently, an alternative tumorigenesis pathway has been suggested in approximately half of HNSCC and CC cases associated with HPV infection. This pathway is characterized by extrachromosomal HPV persistence and increased expression of the viral E2, E4, and E5 genes. The E6, E7, E5, and E2 proteins have been shown to modify the expression of numerous cellular immune-related genes. The antitumor immune response is a critical factor in the prognosis of HPV-driven cancers, and its characterization may contribute to the prediction and personalization of the increasingly used cancer immunotherapy. METHODS We analyzed the immune characteristics of HPV-dependent tumors and their association with carcinogenesis types. Transcriptomic HNSCC and CC datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas were used for this analysis. RESULTS Clustering with immune-related genes resulted in two clusters of HPV16-positive squamous cell carcinomas in both tumor types: cluster 1 had higher activation of immune responses, including stimulation of the antigen processing and presentation pathway, which was associated with higher immune cell infiltration and better overall survival, and cluster 2 was characterized by keratinization. In CC, the distribution of tumor samples into clusters 1 and 2 did not depend on the level of E2/E5 expression, but in HNSCC, most E2/E5-high tumors were localized in cluster 1 and E2/E5-low tumors in cluster 2. Further analysis did not reveal any association between the E2/E5 levels and the expression of immune-related genes. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that while the detection of immune responses associated with preserved expression of genes encoding components of antigen processing and presentation machinery in HPV-driven tumors may be markers of better prognosis and an important factor in therapy selection, the type of carcinogenesis does not seem to play a decisive role in the induction of antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Smahel
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, 252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic.
| | - Jaroslav Nunvar
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, 252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic
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10
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Gelbard MK, Munger K. Human papillomaviruses: Knowns, mysteries, and unchartered territories. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29191. [PMID: 37861365 PMCID: PMC10608791 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
There has been an explosion in the number of papillomaviruses that have been identified and fully sequenced. Yet only a minute fraction of these has been studied in any detail. Most of our molecular research efforts have focused on the E6 and E7 proteins of "high-risk," cancer-associated human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Interactions of the high-risk HPV E6 and E7 proteins with their respective cellular targets, the p53 and the retinoblastoma tumor suppressors, have been investigated in minute detail. Some have thus questioned if research on papillomaviruses remains an exciting and worthwhile area of investigation. However, fundamentally new insights on the biological activities and cellular targets of the high-risk HPV E6 and E7 proteins have been discovered and previously unstudied HPVs have been newly associated with human diseases. HPV infections continue to be an important cause of human morbidity and mortality and since there are no antivirals to combat HPV infections, research on HPVs should remain attractive to new investigators and biomedical funding agencies, alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya K. Gelbard
- Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
- Department of Developmental, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111
| | - Karl Munger
- Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
- Department of Developmental, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111
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Ye J, Zheng L, He Y, Qi X. Human papillomavirus associated cervical lesion: pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e368. [PMID: 37719443 PMCID: PMC10501338 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted virus globally. Persistent high-risk HPV infection can result in cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer, with 70% of cervical cancer cases associated with high-risk types HPV16 and 18. HPV infection imposes a significant financial and psychological burden. Therefore, studying methods to eradicate HPV infection and halt the progression of precancerous lesions remains crucial. This review comprehensively explores the mechanisms underlying HPV-related cervical lesions, including the viral life cycle, immune factors, epithelial cell malignant transformation, and host and environmental contributing factors. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive overview of treatment methods for HPV-related cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. Our focus is on immunotherapy, encompassing HPV therapeutic vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and advanced adoptive T cell therapy. Furthermore, we summarize the commonly employed drugs and other nonsurgical treatments currently utilized in clinical practice for managing HPV infection and associated cervical lesions. Gene editing technology is currently undergoing clinical research and, although not yet employed officially in clinical treatment of cervical lesions, numerous preclinical studies have substantiated its efficacy. Therefore, it holds promise as a precise treatment strategy for HPV-related cervical lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiatian Ye
- Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Lan Zheng
- Department of Pathology and Lab MedicineUniversity of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Yuedong He
- Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xiaorong Qi
- Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
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Saito M, Rajesh A, Innes C, van der Griend R, Fitzgerald P, Simcock B, Sykes P, Hibma M. The High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Type Influences the Tissue Microenvironment in Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Grade 2. Viruses 2023; 15:1953. [PMID: 37766359 PMCID: PMC10535121 DOI: 10.3390/v15091953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
High-risk, cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) types are associated with cervical precancer and cancer. A high proportion of high-risk HPV precancer lesions undergo immune-mediated regression. The purpose of this study was to determine if the tissue microenvironment of HPV16 and 18 (HPV16/18) cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 lesions differed from other high-risk types (HPV 'other'). Consistent with other studies, we found that progression to higher-grade disease was more frequent in HPV16/18 lesions when compared with HPV 'other' lesions. HPV16/18 lesions were significantly more likely to be indoleamine 2,3,-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1)-positive and were associated with reduced CD8 and FoxP3 T cells in the lesion. In the stroma, reduced Tbet- and CD32-positive cells and increased Blimp1-positive cells were significantly associated with HPV16/18 lesions when compared with HPV 'other' types. On analysis of the IDO1-positive tissues, lesional IDO1 was associated with significantly decreased numbers of CD4-, CD8-, and FoxP3-positive cells in the stroma compared with IDO1-negative tissues. These data suggest that IDO1 expression may impair infiltration of CD4, CD8, and FoxP3 cells into the stroma beneath the precancer lesion. Increased expression of IDO1 may contribute to immune avoidance and an increased frequency of disease progression in HPV16- and 18-positive lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Saito
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; (M.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Aarthi Rajesh
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; (M.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Carrie Innes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; (C.I.); (B.S.); (P.S.)
| | | | | | - Bryony Simcock
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; (C.I.); (B.S.); (P.S.)
| | - Peter Sykes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand; (C.I.); (B.S.); (P.S.)
| | - Merilyn Hibma
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; (M.S.); (A.R.)
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Rodriguez I, Rossi NM, Keskus A, Xie Y, Ahmad T, Bryant A, Lou H, Paredes JG, Milano R, Rao N, Tulsyan S, Boland JF, Luo W, Liu J, O’Hanlon T, Bess J, Mukhina V, Gaykalova D, Yuki Y, Malik L, Billingsley K, Blauwendraat C, Carrington M, Yeager M, Mirabello L, Kolmogorov M, Dean M. Insights into the Mechanisms and Structure of Breakage-Fusion-Bridge Cycles in Cervical Cancer using Long-Read Sequencing. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.08.21.23294276. [PMID: 37662332 PMCID: PMC10473792 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.21.23294276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Cervical cancer is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, has few approved targeted therapeutics, and is the most common cause of cancer death in low-resource countries. We characterized 19 cervical and four head and neck cell lines using long-read DNA and RNA sequencing and identified the HPV types, HPV integration sites, chromosomal alterations, and cancer driver mutations. Structural variation analysis revealed telomeric deletions associated with DNA inversions resulting from breakage-fusion-bridge (BFB) cycles. BFB is a common mechanism of chromosomal alterations in cancer, and this is one of the first analyses of these events using long-read sequencing. Analysis of the inversion sites revealed staggered ends consistent with exonuclease digestion of the DNA after breakage. Some BFB events are complex, involving inter- or intra-chromosomal insertions or rearrangements. None of the BFB breakpoints had telomere sequences added to resolve the dicentric chromosomes and only one BFB breakpoint showed chromothripsis. Five cell lines have a Chr11q BFB event, with YAP1/BIRC2/BIRC3 gene amplification. Indeed, YAP1 amplification is associated with a 10-year earlier age of diagnosis of cervical cancer and is three times more common in African American women. This suggests that cervical cancer patients with YAP1/BIRC2/BIRC3-amplification, especially those of African American ancestry, might benefit from targeted therapy. In summary, we uncovered new insights into the mechanisms and consequences of BFB cycles in cervical cancer using long-read sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Rodriguez
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Nicole M. Rossi
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ayse Keskus
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Yi Xie
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Tanveer Ahmad
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Asher Bryant
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Hong Lou
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA and Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Jesica Godinez Paredes
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Rose Milano
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Nina Rao
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sonam Tulsyan
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Joseph F. Boland
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA and Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Wen Luo
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA and Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Jia Liu
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA and Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Tim O’Hanlon
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA and Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Jazmyn Bess
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Vera Mukhina
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daria Gaykalova
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Marlene & Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yuko Yuki
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA and Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Laksh Malik
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland, USA and Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kimberley Billingsley
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland, USA and Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Cornelis Blauwendraat
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland, USA and Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mary Carrington
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA and Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Meredith Yeager
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA and Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Lisa Mirabello
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Mikhail Kolmogorov
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Michael Dean
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
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