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Sbaffone M, Jaffrain-Rea ML, Cappabianca L, Carbonara F, Gianno F, Feola T, Ruggieri M, Zelli V, Maccarone R, Guadagni S, Clementi M, Arcella A, Esposito V, Carozza G, Martelli I, Farina AR, Mackay AR. A Study of Alternative TrkA Splicing Identifies TrkAIII as a Novel Potentially Targetable Participant in PitNET Progression. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:171. [PMID: 38534441 DOI: 10.3390/biology13030171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are generally benign but comprise an aggressive, invasive, therapy-resistant, metastatic subset, underpinning a need for novel therapeutic targets. PitNETs exhibit low mutation rates but are associated with conditions linked to alternative splicing, an alternative oncogene pathway activation mechanism. PitNETs express the neurotrophin receptor TrkA, which exhibits oncogenic alternative TrkAIII splicing in other neuroendocrine tumors. We, therefore, assessed whether TrkAIII splicing represents a potential oncogenic participant in PitNETs. TrkAIII splicing was RT-PCR assessed in 53 PitNETs and TrkA isoform(s) expression and activation were assessed by confocal immunofluorescence. TrkAIII splicing was also compared to HIF1α, HIF2α, SF3B1, SRSF2, U2AF1, and JCPyV large T antigen mRNA expression, Xbp1 splicing, and SF3B1 mutation. TrkAIII splicing was detected in all invasive and most non-invasive PitNETs and was significantly elevated in invasive cases. In PitNET lineages, TrkAIII splicing was significantly elevated in invasive PIT1 PitNETs and high in invasive and non-invasive SF1 and TPIT lineages. Immunoreactivity consistent with TrkAIII activation characterized PitNET expressing TrkAIII mRNA, and invasive Pit1 PitNETs exhibited elevated HIF2α expression. TrkAIII splicing did not associate with SF3B1 mutations, altered SF3B1, SRSF2, and U2AF1 or JCPyV large T antigen expression, or Xbp1 splicing. Therefore, TrkAIII splicing is common in PitNETs, is elevated in invasive, especially PIT1 tumors, can result in intracellular TrkAIII activation, and may involve hypoxia. The data support a role for TrkAIII splicing in PitNET pathogenesis and progression and identify TrkAIII as a novel potential target in refractory PitNETs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddalena Sbaffone
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Marie-Lise Jaffrain-Rea
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
- Neuromed, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Lucia Cappabianca
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesca Carbonara
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesca Gianno
- Neuromed, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, La Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziana Feola
- Neuromed, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Marianna Ruggieri
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Veronica Zelli
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Rita Maccarone
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Stefano Guadagni
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Marco Clementi
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Antonietta Arcella
- Neuromed, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Esposito
- Neuromed, Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, La Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Carozza
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Ilaria Martelli
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Antonietta Rosella Farina
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Andrew Reay Mackay
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
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Duan S, Sawyer TW, Witten BL, Song H, Else T, Merchant JL. Spatial profiling reveals tissue-specific neuro-immune interactions in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. J Pathol 2024; 262:362-376. [PMID: 38229586 PMCID: PMC10869639 DOI: 10.1002/path.6241] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) are heterogeneous malignancies that arise from complex cellular interactions within the tissue microenvironment. Here, we sought to decipher tumor-derived signals from the surrounding microenvironment by applying digital spatial profiling (DSP) to hormone-secreting and non-functional GEP-NETs. By combining this approach with in vitro studies of human-derived organoids, we demonstrated the convergence of cell autonomous immune and pro-inflammatory proteins that suggests their role in neuroendocrine differentiation and tumorigenesis. DSP was used to evaluate the expression of 40 neural- and immune-related proteins in surgically resected duodenal and pancreatic NETs (n = 20) primarily consisting of gastrinomas (18/20). A total of 279 regions of interest were examined between tumors, adjacent normal and abnormal-appearing epithelium, and the surrounding stroma. The results were stratified by tissue type and multiple endocrine neoplasia I (MEN1) status, whereas protein expression was validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). A tumor immune cell autonomous inflammatory signature was further evaluated by IHC and RNAscope, while functional pro-inflammatory signaling was confirmed using patient-derived duodenal organoids. Gastrin-secreting and non-functional pancreatic NETs showed a higher abundance of immune cell markers and immune infiltrate compared with duodenal gastrinomas. Compared with non-MEN1 tumors, MEN1 gastrinomas and preneoplastic lesions showed strong immune exclusion and upregulated expression of neuropathological proteins. Despite a paucity of immune cells, duodenal gastrinomas expressed the pro-inflammatory and pro-neural factor IL-17B. Treatment of human duodenal organoids with IL-17B activated NF-κB and STAT3 signaling and induced the expression of neuroendocrine markers. In conclusion, multiplexed spatial protein analysis identified tissue-specific neuro-immune signatures in GEP-NETs. Duodenal gastrinomas are characterized by an immunologically cold microenvironment that permits cellular reprogramming and neoplastic transformation of the preneoplastic epithelium. Moreover, duodenal gastrinomas cell autonomously express immune and pro-inflammatory factors, including tumor-derived IL-17B, that stimulate the neuroendocrine phenotype. © 2024 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzann Duan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Travis W. Sawyer
- Department of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona Wyant College of Optical Sciences, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Brandon L. Witten
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Heyu Song
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Tobias Else
- Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, University of Michigan, Ann Harbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Juanita L. Merchant
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Forsythe SD, Pu T, Andrews SG, Madigan JP, Sadowski SM. Models in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Current Perspectives and Future Directions. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3756. [PMID: 37568572 PMCID: PMC10416968 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors derived from multiple neuroendocrine origin cell subtypes. Incidence rates for pNENs have steadily risen over the last decade, and outcomes continue to vary widely due to inability to properly screen. These tumors encompass a wide range of functional and non-functional subtypes, with their rarity and slow growth making therapeutic development difficult as most clinically used therapeutics are derived from retrospective analyses. Improved molecular understanding of these cancers has increased our knowledge of the tumor biology for pNENs. Despite these advances in our understanding of pNENs, there remains a dearth of models for further investigation. In this review, we will cover the current field of pNEN models, which include established cell lines, animal models such as mice and zebrafish, and three-dimensional (3D) cell models, and compare their uses in modeling various disease aspects. While no study model is a complete representation of pNEN biology, each has advantages which allow for new scientific understanding of these rare tumors. Future efforts and advancements in technology will continue to create new options in modeling these cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven D. Forsythe
- Neuroendocrine Cancer Therapy Section, Surgical Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (S.D.F.); (S.G.A.); (J.P.M.)
| | - Tracey Pu
- Surgical Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Stephen G. Andrews
- Neuroendocrine Cancer Therapy Section, Surgical Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (S.D.F.); (S.G.A.); (J.P.M.)
| | - James P. Madigan
- Neuroendocrine Cancer Therapy Section, Surgical Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (S.D.F.); (S.G.A.); (J.P.M.)
| | - Samira M. Sadowski
- Neuroendocrine Cancer Therapy Section, Surgical Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (S.D.F.); (S.G.A.); (J.P.M.)
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Song H, Sontz RA, Vance MJ, Morris JM, Sheriff S, Zhu S, Duan S, Zeng J, Koeppe E, Pandey R, Thorne CA, Stoffel EM, Merchant JL. High-fat diet plus HNF1A variant promotes polyps by activating β-catenin in early-onset colorectal cancer. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e167163. [PMID: 37219942 PMCID: PMC10371337 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.167163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC) is rising and is poorly understood. Lifestyle factors and altered genetic background possibly contribute. Here, we performed targeted exon sequencing of archived leukocyte DNA from 158 EO-CRC participants, which identified a missense mutation at p.A98V within the proximal DNA binding domain of Hepatic Nuclear Factor 1 α (HNF1AA98V, rs1800574). The HNF1AA98V exhibited reduced DNA binding. To test function, the HNF1A variant was introduced into the mouse genome by CRISPR/Cas9, and the mice were placed on either a high-fat diet (HFD) or high-sugar diet (HSD). Only 1% of the HNF1A mutant mice developed polyps on normal chow; however, 19% and 3% developed polyps on the HFD and HSD, respectively. RNA-Seq revealed an increase in metabolic, immune, lipid biogenesis genes, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling components in the HNF1A mutant relative to the WT mice. Mouse polyps and colon cancers from participants carrying the HNF1AA98V variant exhibited reduced CDX2 and elevated β-catenin proteins. We further demonstrated decreased occupancy of HNF1AA98V at the Cdx2 locus and reduced Cdx2 promoter activity compared with WT HNF1A. Collectively, our study shows that the HNF1AA98V variant plus a HFD promotes the formation of colonic polyps by activating β-catenin via decreasing Cdx2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heyu Song
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Ricky A. Sontz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Matthew J. Vance
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Julia M. Morris
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Sulaiman Sheriff
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Songli Zhu
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Suzann Duan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Jiping Zeng
- Department of Urology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Ritu Pandey
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Curtis A. Thorne
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Elena M. Stoffel
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Juanita L. Merchant
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
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Bian Y, Hahn H, Uhmann A. The hidden hedgehog of the pituitary: hedgehog signaling in development, adulthood and disease of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1219018. [PMID: 37476499 PMCID: PMC10355329 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1219018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Hedgehog signaling plays pivotal roles in embryonic development, adult homeostasis and tumorigenesis. However, its engagement in the pituitary gland has been long underestimated although Hedgehog signaling and pituitary embryogenic development are closely linked. Thus, deregulation of this signaling pathway during pituitary development results in malformation of the gland. Research of the last years further implicates a regulatory role of Hedgehog signaling in the function of the adult pituitary, because its activity is also interlinked with homeostasis, hormone production, and most likely also formation of neoplasms of the gland. The fact that this pathway can be efficiently targeted by validated therapeutic strategies makes it a promising candidate for treating pituitary diseases. We here summarize the current knowledge about the importance of Hedgehog signaling during pituitary development and review recent data that highlight the impact of Hedgehog signaling in the healthy and the diseased adult pituitary gland.
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Pritchard DM. New Mouse Model Suggests That Some Neuroendocrine Tumors May Originate From Neural Crest-Derived Cells. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 14:1170-1171. [PMID: 36084750 PMCID: PMC9606794 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- D Mark Pritchard
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, The Henry Wellcome Laboratory, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
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