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Hortua Triana MA, Márquez-Nogueras KM, Fazli MS, Quinn S, Moreno SNJ. Regulation of calcium entry by cyclic GMP signaling in Toxoplasma gondii. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105771. [PMID: 38382669 PMCID: PMC10959671 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105771] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ca2+ signaling impacts almost every aspect of cellular life. Ca2+ signals are generated through the opening of ion channels that permit the flow of Ca2+ down an electrochemical gradient. Cytosolic Ca2+ fluctuations can be generated through Ca2+ entry from the extracellular milieu or release from intracellular stores. In Toxoplasma gondii, Ca2+ ions play critical roles in several essential functions for the parasite, like invasion of host cells, motility, and egress. Plasma membrane Ca2+ entry in T. gondii was previously shown to be activated by cytosolic calcium and inhibited by the voltage-operated Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine. However, Ca2+ entry in T. gondii did not show the classical characteristics of store regulation. In this work, we characterized the mechanism by which cytosolic Ca2+ regulates plasma membrane Ca2+ entry in extracellular T. gondii tachyzoites loaded with the Ca2+ indicator Fura-2. We compared the inhibition by nifedipine with the effect of the broad spectrum TRP channel inhibitor, anthranilic acid or ACA, and we find that both inhibitors act on different Ca2+ entry activities. We demonstrate, using pharmacological and genetic tools, that an intracellular signaling pathway engaging cyclic GMP, protein kinase G, Ca2+, and the phosphatidyl inositol phospholipase C affects Ca2+ entry and we present a model for crosstalk between cyclic GMP and cytosolic Ca2+ for the activation of T. gondii's lytic cycle traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miryam A Hortua Triana
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | | | | | - Shannon Quinn
- Department of Computer Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Silvia N J Moreno
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
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Park R, Kang MS, Heo G, Shin YC, Han DW, Hong SW. Regulated Behavior in Living Cells with Highly Aligned Configurations on Nanowrinkled Graphene Oxide Substrates: Deep Learning Based on Interplay of Cellular Contact Guidance. ACS NANO 2024; 18:1325-1344. [PMID: 38099607 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c09815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Micro-/nanotopographical cues have emerged as a practical and promising strategy for controlling cell fate and reprogramming, which play a key role as biophysical regulators in diverse cellular processes and behaviors. Extracellular biophysical factors can trigger intracellular physiological signaling via mechanotransduction and promote cellular responses such as cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, gene/protein expression, and differentiation. Here, we engineered a highly ordered nanowrinkled graphene oxide (GO) surface via the mechanical deformation of an ultrathin GO film on an elastomeric substrate to observe specific cellular responses based on surface-mediated topographical cues. The ultrathin GO film on the uniaxially prestrained elastomeric substrate through self-assembly and subsequent compressive force produced GO nanowrinkles with periodic amplitude. To examine the acute cellular behaviors on the GO-based cell interface with nanostructured arrays of wrinkles, we cultured L929 fibroblasts and HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells. As a result, our developed cell-culture substrate obviously provided a directional guidance effect. In addition, based on the observed results, we adapted a deep learning (DL)-based data processing technique to precisely interpret the cell behaviors on the nanowrinkled GO surfaces. According to the learning/transfer learning protocol of the DL network, we detected cell boundaries, elongation, and orientation and quantitatively evaluated cell velocity, traveling distance, displacement, and orientation. The presented experimental results have intriguing implications such that the nanotopographical microenvironment could engineer the living cells' morphological polarization to assemble them into useful tissue chips consisting of multiple cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowoon Park
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Moon Sung Kang
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyeonghwa Heo
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Cheol Shin
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio 44195, United States
| | - Dong-Wook Han
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Suck Won Hong
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
- Engineering Research Center for Color-Modulated Extra-Sensory Perception Technology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
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Kang MS, Yu Y, Park R, Heo HJ, Lee SH, Hong SW, Kim YH, Han DW. Highly Aligned Ternary Nanofiber Matrices Loaded with MXene Expedite Regeneration of Volumetric Muscle Loss. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2024; 16:73. [PMID: 38175358 PMCID: PMC10767178 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01293-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Current therapeutic approaches for volumetric muscle loss (VML) face challenges due to limited graft availability and insufficient bioactivities. To overcome these limitations, tissue-engineered scaffolds have emerged as a promising alternative. In this study, we developed aligned ternary nanofibrous matrices comprised of poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) integrated with collagen and Ti3C2Tx MXene nanoparticles (NPs) (PCM matrices), and explored their myogenic potential for skeletal muscle tissue regeneration. The PCM matrices demonstrated favorable physicochemical properties, including structural uniformity, alignment, microporosity, and hydrophilicity. In vitro assays revealed that the PCM matrices promoted cellular behaviors and myogenic differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. Moreover, in vivo experiments demonstrated enhanced muscle remodeling and recovery in mice treated with PCM matrices following VML injury. Mechanistic insights from next-generation sequencing revealed that MXene NPs facilitated protein and ion availability within PCM matrices, leading to elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels in myoblasts through the activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1), ultimately promoting myogenic differentiation via the mTOR-AKT pathway. Additionally, upregulated iNOS and increased NO- contributed to myoblast proliferation and fiber fusion, thereby facilitating overall myoblast maturation. These findings underscore the potential of MXene NPs loaded within highly aligned matrices as therapeutic agents to promote skeletal muscle tissue recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moon Sung Kang
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, College of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeuni Yu
- Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, 50612, Republic of Korea
| | - Rowoon Park
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, College of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Jin Heo
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, 50612, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Hyun Lee
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, College of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea
- Osstem Implant Inc., Seoul, 07789, Republic of Korea
| | - Suck Won Hong
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, College of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.
- Engineering Research Center for Color‑Modulated Extra‑Sensory Perception Technology, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yun Hak Kim
- Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, 50612, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, 50612, Republic of Korea.
- Periodontal Disease Signaling Network Research Center and Dental and Life Science Institute, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan, 50612, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dong-Wook Han
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, College of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.
- BIO-IT Fusion Technology Research Institute, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.
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Zhao M, Wang T, Gleber-Netto FO, Chen Z, McGrail DJ, Gomez JA, Ju W, Gadhikar MA, Ma W, Shen L, Wang Q, Tang X, Pathak S, Raso MG, Burks JK, Lin SY, Wang J, Multani AS, Pickering CR, Chen J, Myers JN, Zhou G. Mutant p53 gains oncogenic functions through a chromosomal instability-induced cytosolic DNA response. Nat Commun 2024; 15:180. [PMID: 38167338 PMCID: PMC10761733 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44239-2] [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: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Inactivating TP53 mutations leads to a loss of function of p53, but can also often result in oncogenic gain-of-function (GOF) of mutant p53 (mutp53) proteins which promotes tumor development and progression. The GOF activities of TP53 mutations are well documented, but the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Here, we study the mutp53 interactome and find that by targeting minichromosome maintenance complex components (MCMs), GOF mutp53 predisposes cells to replication stress and chromosomal instability (CIN), leading to a tumor cell-autonomous and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-dependent cytosolic DNA response that activates downstream non-canonical nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cell (NC-NF-κB) signaling. Consequently, GOF mutp53-MCMs-CIN-cytosolic DNA-cGAS-STING-NC-NF-κB signaling promotes tumor cell metastasis and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment through antagonizing interferon signaling and regulating genes associated with pro-tumorigenic inflammation. Our findings have important implications for understanding not only the GOF activities of TP53 mutations but also the genome-guardian role of p53 and its inactivation during tumor development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Zhao
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Tianxiao Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, 100142, Beijing, China
| | - Frederico O Gleber-Netto
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Zhen Chen
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Daniel J McGrail
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
- Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Javier A Gomez
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Wutong Ju
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Mayur A Gadhikar
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Wencai Ma
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ximing Tang
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Sen Pathak
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Maria Gabriela Raso
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jared K Burks
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Shiaw-Yih Lin
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Asha S Multani
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Curtis R Pickering
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Surgery-Otolaryngology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06250, USA
| | - Junjie Chen
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jeffrey N Myers
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Ge Zhou
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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Cristaldi C, Saldarriaga Cartagena AM, Ganuza A, Sullivan WJ, Angel SO, Vanagas L. Evaluation of topotecan and 10-hydroxycamptothecin on Toxoplasma gondii: Implications on baseline DNA damage and repair efficiency. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2023; 23:120-129. [PMID: 38043188 PMCID: PMC10730954 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.11.004] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite in the phylum Apicomplexa that causes toxoplasmosis in humans and animals worldwide. Despite its prevalence, there is currently no effective vaccine or treatment for chronic infection. Although there are therapies against the acute stage, prolonged use is toxic and poorly tolerated. This study aims to explore the potential of repurposing topotecan and 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) as drugs producing double strand breaks (DSBs) in T. gondii. DSBs are mainly repaired by Homologous Recombination Repair (HRR) and Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ). Two T. gondii strains, RHΔHXGPRT and RHΔKU80, were used to compare the drug's effects on parasites. RHΔHXGPRT parasites may use both HRR and NHEJ pathways but RHΔKU80 lacks the KU80 protein needed for NHEJ, leaving only the HRR pathway. Here we demonstrate that topotecan and HCPT, both topoisomerase I venoms, affected parasite replication in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, variations in fluorescence intensity measurements for the H2A.X phosphorylation mark (γH2A.X), an indicator of DNA damage, were observed in intracellular parasites under drug treatment conditions. Interestingly, intracellular replicative parasites without drug treatment show a strong positive staining for γH2A.X, suggesting inherent DNA damage. Extracellular (non-replicating) parasites did not exhibit γH2A.X staining, indicating that the basal level of DNA damage is likely to be associated with replicative stress. A high rate of DNA replication stress possibly prompted the evolution of an efficient repair machinery in the parasite, making it an attractive target. Our findings show that topoisomerase 1 venoms are effective antiparasitics blocking T. gondii replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constanza Cristaldi
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (CONICET-UNSAM). Chascomús, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (UNSAM), Argentina
| | - Ana M Saldarriaga Cartagena
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (CONICET-UNSAM). Chascomús, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (UNSAM), Argentina
| | - Agustina Ganuza
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (CONICET-UNSAM). Chascomús, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (UNSAM), Argentina
| | - William J Sullivan
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Sergio O Angel
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (CONICET-UNSAM). Chascomús, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (UNSAM), Argentina.
| | - Laura Vanagas
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (CONICET-UNSAM). Chascomús, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (UNSAM), Argentina.
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Munera López J, Alonso AM, Figueras MJ, Saldarriaga Cartagena AM, Hortua Triana MA, Diambra L, Vanagas L, Deng B, Moreno SNJ, Angel SO. Analysis of the Interactome of the Toxoplasma gondii Tgj1 HSP40 Chaperone. Proteomes 2023; 11:9. [PMID: 36976888 PMCID: PMC10056330 DOI: 10.3390/proteomes11010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular apicomplexan that causes toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. Central to its dissemination and pathogenicity is the ability to rapidly divide in the tachyzoite stage and infect any type of nucleated cell. Adaptation to different cell contexts requires high plasticity in which heat shock proteins (Hsps) could play a fundamental role. Tgj1 is a type I Hsp40 of T. gondii, an ortholog of the DNAJA1 group, which is essential during the tachyzoite lytic cycle. Tgj1 consists of a J-domain, ZFD, and DNAJ_C domains with a CRQQ C-terminal motif, which is usually prone to lipidation. Tgj1 presented a mostly cytosolic subcellular localization overlapping partially with endoplasmic reticulum. Protein-protein Interaction (PPI) analysis showed that Tgj1 could be implicated in various biological pathways, mainly translation, protein folding, energy metabolism, membrane transport and protein translocation, invasion/pathogenesis, cell signaling, chromatin and transcription regulation, and cell redox homeostasis among others. The combination of Tgj1 and Hsp90 PPIs retrieved only 70 interactors linked to the Tgj1-Hsp90 axis, suggesting that Tgj1 would present specific functions in addition to those of the Hsp70/Hsp90 cycle, standing out invasion/pathogenesis, cell shape motility, and energy pathway. Within the Hsp70/Hsp90 cycle, translation-associated pathways, cell redox homeostasis, and protein folding were highly enriched in the Tgj1-Hsp90 axis. In conclusion, Tgj1 would interact with a wide range of proteins from different biological pathways, which could suggest a relevant role in them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Munera López
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Av. Intendente Marino Km. 8.2, C.C 164, Chascomús 7130, Argentina
| | - Andrés Mariano Alonso
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Av. Intendente Marino Km. 8.2, C.C 164, Chascomús 7130, Argentina
| | - Maria Julia Figueras
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Av. Intendente Marino Km. 8.2, C.C 164, Chascomús 7130, Argentina
| | - Ana María Saldarriaga Cartagena
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Av. Intendente Marino Km. 8.2, C.C 164, Chascomús 7130, Argentina
| | - Miryam A. Hortua Triana
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Luis Diambra
- Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Laura Vanagas
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Av. Intendente Marino Km. 8.2, C.C 164, Chascomús 7130, Argentina
| | - Bin Deng
- Department of Biology and VBRN, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Silvia N. J. Moreno
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Sergio Oscar Angel
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Av. Intendente Marino Km. 8.2, C.C 164, Chascomús 7130, Argentina
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Liu T, Li S, Xia C, Xu D. TERT promoter mutations and methylation for telomerase activation in urothelial carcinomas: New mechanistic insights and clinical significance. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1071390. [PMID: 36713366 PMCID: PMC9877314 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1071390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase, an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase synthesizing telomeric TTAGGG sequences, is primarily silent in normal human urothelial cells (NHUCs), but widely activated in urothelial cell-derived carcinomas or urothelial carcinomas (UCs) including UC of the bladder (UCB) and upper track UC (UTUC). Telomerase activation for telomere maintenance is required for the UC development and progression, and the key underlying mechanism is the transcriptional de-repression of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), a gene encoding the rate-limiting, telomerase catalytic component. Recent mechanistic explorations have revealed important roles for TERT promoter mutations and aberrant methylation in activation of TERT transcription and telomerase in UCs. Moreover, these TERT-featured genomic and epigenetic alterations have been evaluated for their usefulness in non-invasive UC diagnostics, recurrence monitoring, outcome prediction and response to treatments such as immunotherapy. Importantly, the detection of the mutated TERT promoter and TERT mRNA as urinary biomarkers holds great promise for urine-based UC liquid biopsy. In the present article, we review recent mechanistic insights into altered TERT promoter-mediated telomerase activation in UCs and discuss potential clinical implications. Specifically, we compare differences in senescence and transformation between NHUCs and other types of epithelial cells, address the interaction between TERT promoter mutations and other factors to affect UC progression and outcomes, evaluate the impact of TERT promoter mutations and TERT-mediated activation of human endogenous retrovirus genes on UC immunotherapy including Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Finally, we suggest the standardization of a TERT assay and evaluation system for UC clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Liu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shihong Li
- Department of Pathology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Liaocheng, Liaocheng, China
| | - Chuanyou Xia
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China,*Correspondence: Chuanyou Xia, ; Dawei Xu,
| | - Dawei Xu
- Department of Medicine, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden,*Correspondence: Chuanyou Xia, ; Dawei Xu,
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Udroiu I, Marinaccio J, Sgura A. Many Functions of Telomerase Components: Certainties, Doubts, and Inconsistencies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315189. [PMID: 36499514 PMCID: PMC9736166 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing number of studies have evidenced non-telomeric functions of "telomerase". Almost all of them, however, investigated the non-canonical effects of the catalytic subunit TERT, and not the telomerase ribonucleoprotein holoenzyme. These functions mainly comprise signal transduction, gene regulation and the increase of anti-oxidative systems. Although less studied, TERC (the RNA component of telomerase) has also been shown to be involved in gene regulation, as well as other functions. All this has led to the publication of many reviews on the subject, which, however, are often disseminating personal interpretations of experimental studies of other researchers as original proofs. Indeed, while some functions such as gene regulation seem ascertained, especially because mechanistic findings have been provided, other ones remain dubious and/or are contradicted by other direct or indirect evidence (e.g., telomerase activity at double-strand break site, RNA polymerase activity of TERT, translation of TERC, mitochondrion-processed TERC). In a critical study of the primary evidence so far obtained, we show those functions for which there is consensus, those showing contradictory results and those needing confirmation. The resulting picture, together with some usually neglected aspects, seems to indicate a link between TERT and TERC functions and cellular stemness and gives possible directions for future research.
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Lang L, Loveless R, Dou J, Lam T, Chen A, Wang F, Sun L, Juarez J, Qin ZS, Saba NF, Shay C, Teng Y. ATAD3A mediates activation of RAS-independent mitochondrial ERK1/2 signaling, favoring head and neck cancer development. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:43. [PMID: 35093151 PMCID: PMC8800319 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02274-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Targeting mitochondrial oncoproteins presents a new concept in the development of effective cancer therapeutics. ATAD3A is a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial enzyme contributing to mitochondrial dynamics, cholesterol metabolism, and signal transduction. However, its impact and underlying regulatory mechanisms in cancers remain ill-defined. METHODS We used head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) as a research platform and achieved gene depletion by lentiviral shRNA and CRISPR/Cas9. Molecular alterations were examined by RNA-sequencing, phospho-kinase profiling, Western blotting, RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and immunoprecipitation. Cancer cell growth was assessed by MTT, colony formation, soft agar, and 3D cultures. The therapeutic efficacy in tumor development was evaluated in orthotopic tongue tumor NSG mice. RESULTS ATAD3A is highly expressed in HNSCC tissues and cell lines. Loss of ATAD3A expression suppresses HNSCC cell growth and elicits tumor regression in orthotopic tumor-bearing mice, whereas gain of ATAD3A expression produces the opposite effects. From a mechanistic perspective, the tumor suppression induced by the overexpression of the Walker A dead mutant of ATAD3A (K358) produces a potent dominant-negative effect due to defective ATP-binding. Moreover, ATAD3A binds to ERK1/2 in the mitochondria of HNSCC cells in the presence of VDAC1, and this interaction is essential for the activation of mitochondrial ERK1/2 signaling. Most importantly, the ATAD3A-ERK1/2 signaling axis drives HNSCC development in a RAS-independent fashion and, thus, tumor suppression is more effectively achieved when ATAD3A knockout is combined with RAS inhibitor treatment. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the novel function of ATAD3A in regulating mitochondrial ERK1/2 activation that favors HNSCC development. Combined targeting of ATAD3A and RAS signaling may potentiate anticancer activity for HNSCC therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Lang
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Reid Loveless
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Juan Dou
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Dr, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Tiffany Lam
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Alex Chen
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Jakeline Juarez
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Zhaohui Steve Qin
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Nabil F Saba
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Dr, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Chloe Shay
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory, University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, 201 Dowman Dr, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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10
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Li ZH, King TP, Ayong L, Asady B, Cai X, Rahman T, Vella SA, Coppens I, Patel S, Moreno SNJ. A plastid two-pore channel essential for inter-organelle communication and growth of Toxoplasma gondii. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5802. [PMID: 34608145 PMCID: PMC8490419 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25987-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Two-pore channels (TPCs) are a ubiquitous family of cation channels that localize to acidic organelles in animals and plants to regulate numerous Ca2+-dependent events. Little is known about TPCs in unicellular organisms despite their ancient origins. Here, we characterize a TPC from Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis. TgTPC is a member of a novel clad of TPCs in Apicomplexa, distinct from previously identified TPCs and only present in coccidians. We show that TgTPC localizes not to acidic organelles but to the apicoplast, a non-photosynthetic plastid found in most apicomplexan parasites. Conditional silencing of TgTPC resulted in progressive loss of apicoplast integrity, severely affecting growth and the lytic cycle. Isolation of TPC null mutants revealed a selective role for TPCs in replication independent of apicoplast loss that required conserved residues within the pore-lining region. Using a genetically-encoded Ca2+ indicator targeted to the apicoplast, we show that Ca2+ signals deriving from the ER but not from the extracellular space are selectively transmitted to the lumen. Deletion of the TgTPC gene caused reduced apicoplast Ca2+ uptake and membrane contact site formation between the apicoplast and the ER. Fundamental roles for TPCs in maintaining organelle integrity, inter-organelle communication and growth emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu-Hong Li
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Thayer P King
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Lawrence Ayong
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Beejan Asady
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Heath, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Xinjiang Cai
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Taufiq Rahman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, USA
| | - Stephen A Vella
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Isabelle Coppens
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Heath, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sandip Patel
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Silvia N J Moreno
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. .,Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
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11
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Márquez-Nogueras KM, Hortua Triana MA, Chasen NM, Kuo IY, Moreno SN. Calcium signaling through a transient receptor channel is important for Toxoplasma gondii growth. eLife 2021; 10:63417. [PMID: 34106044 PMCID: PMC8216714 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels participate in calcium ion (Ca2+) influx and intracellular Ca2+ release. TRP channels have not been studied in Toxoplasma gondii or any other apicomplexan parasite. In this work, we characterize TgGT1_310560, a protein predicted to possess a TRP domain (TgTRPPL-2), and determined its role in Ca2+ signaling in T. gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis. TgTRPPL-2 localizes to the plasma membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of T. gondii. The ΔTgTRPPL-2 mutant was defective in growth and cytosolic Ca2+ influx from both extracellular and intracellular sources. Heterologous expression of TgTRPPL-2 in HEK-3KO cells allowed its functional characterization. Patching of ER-nuclear membranes demonstrates that TgTRPPL-2 is a non-selective cation channel that conducts Ca2+. Pharmacological blockers of TgTRPPL-2 inhibit Ca2+ influx and parasite growth. This is the first report of an apicomplexan ion channel that conducts Ca2+ and may initiate a Ca2+ signaling cascade that leads to the stimulation of motility, invasion, and egress. TgTRPPL-2 is a potential target for combating toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Marie Márquez-Nogueras
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, United States.,Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, United States
| | | | - Nathan M Chasen
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, United States
| | - Ivana Y Kuo
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, United States
| | - Silvia Nj Moreno
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, United States.,Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, United States
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12
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Lagosz-Cwik KB, Wielento A, Lipska W, Kantorowicz M, Darczuk D, Kaczmarzyk T, Gibbs S, Potempa J, Grabiec AM. hTERT-immortalized gingival fibroblasts respond to cytokines but fail to mimic primary cell responses to Porphyromonas gingivalis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10770. [PMID: 34031466 PMCID: PMC8144196 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90037-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In periodontitis, gingival fibroblasts (GFs) interact with and respond to oral pathogens, significantly contributing to perpetuation of chronic inflammation and tissue destruction. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of the recently released hTERT-immortalized GF (TIGF) cell line for studies of host–pathogen interactions. We show that TIGFs are unable to upregulate expression and production of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and prostaglandin E2 upon infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis despite being susceptible to adhesion and invasion by this oral pathogen. In contrast, induction of inflammatory mediators in TNFα- or IL-1β-stimulated TIGFs is comparable to that observed in primary GFs. The inability of TIGFs to respond directly to P. gingivalis is caused by a specific defect in Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2) expression, which is likely driven by TLR2 promoter hypermethylation. Consistently, TIGFs fail to upregulate inflammatory genes in response to the TLR2 agonists Pam2CSK4 and Pam3CSK4. These results identify important limitations of using TIGFs to study GF interaction with oral pathogens, though these cells may be useful for studies of TLR2-independent processes. Our observations also emphasize the importance of direct comparisons between immortalized and primary cells prior to using cell lines as models in studies of any biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna B Lagosz-Cwik
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Wielento
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Weronika Lipska
- Department of Periodontology and Clinical Oral Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Kantorowicz
- Department of Periodontology and Clinical Oral Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Dagmara Darczuk
- Department of Periodontology and Clinical Oral Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Tomasz Kaczmarzyk
- Department of Periodontology and Clinical Oral Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.,Department of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Susan Gibbs
- Department of Oral Cell Biology, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Potempa
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland. .,Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Dentistry, Louisville, KY, USA.
| | - Aleksander M Grabiec
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland.
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13
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Khurana P, Kolundzic N, Flohr C, Ilic D. Human pluripotent stem cells: An alternative for 3D in vitro modelling of skin disease. Exp Dermatol 2021; 30:1572-1587. [PMID: 33864704 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
To effectively study the skin and its pathology, various platforms have been used to date, with in vitro 3D skin models being considered the future gold standard. These models have generally been engineered from primary cell lines. However, their short life span leading to the use of various donors, imposes issues with genetic variation. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-technology holds great prospects as an alternative to the use of primary cell lines to study the pathophysiology of human skin diseases. This is due to their potential to generate an unlimited number of genetically identical skin models that closely mimic the complexity of in vivo human skin. During the past decade, researchers have therefore started to use human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (hESC/iPSC) to derive skin resident-like cells and components. These have subsequently been used to engineer hPSC-derived 3D skin models. In this review, we focus on the advantages, recent developments, and future perspectives in using hPSCs as an alternative cell source for modelling human skin diseases in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Khurana
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.,Assisted Conception Unit, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Nikola Kolundzic
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.,Assisted Conception Unit, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Carsten Flohr
- St John's Institute of Dermatology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Dusko Ilic
- Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.,Assisted Conception Unit, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
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14
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Miyanaga A, Matsumoto M, Beck JA, Horikawa I, Oike T, Okayama H, Tanaka H, Burkett SS, Robles AI, Khan M, Lissa D, Seike M, Gemma A, Mano H, Harris CC. EML4-ALK induces cellular senescence in mortal normal human cells and promotes anchorage-independent growth in hTERT-transduced normal human cells. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:310. [PMID: 33761896 PMCID: PMC7992817 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-07905-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chromosomal inversions involving anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and echinoderm microtubule associated protein like 4 (EML4) generate a fusion protein EML4-ALK in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The understanding of EML4-ALK function can be improved by a functional study using normal human cells. METHODS Here we for the first time conduct such study to examine the effects of EML4-ALK on cell proliferation, cellular senescence, DNA damage, gene expression profiles and transformed phenotypes. RESULTS The lentiviral expression of EML4-ALK in mortal, normal human fibroblasts caused, through its constitutive ALK kinase activity, an early induction of cellular senescence with accumulated DNA damage, upregulation of p16INK4A and p21WAF1, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity. In contrast, when EML4-ALK was expressed in normal human fibroblasts transduced with telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), which is activated in the vast majority of NSCLC, the cells showed accelerated proliferation and acquired anchorage-independent growth ability in soft-agar medium, without accumulated DNA damage, chromosome aberration, nor p53 mutation. EML4-ALK induced the phosphorylation of STAT3 in both mortal and hTERT-transduced cells, but RNA sequencing analysis suggested that the different signaling pathways contributed to the different phenotypic outcomes in these cells. While EML4-ALK also induced anchorage-independent growth in hTERT-immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro, the expression of EML4-ALK alone did not cause detectable in vivo tumorigenicity in immunodeficient mice. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that the expression of hTERT is critical for EML4-ALK to manifest its in vitro transforming activity in human cells. This study provides the isogenic pairs of human cells with and without EML4-ALK expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko Miyanaga
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Room 3068A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaru Matsumoto
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Room 3068A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jessica A Beck
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Room 3068A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Izumi Horikawa
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Room 3068A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Takahiro Oike
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Room 3068A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Hirokazu Okayama
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Room 3068A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Hiromi Tanaka
- Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Sandra S Burkett
- Molecular Cytogenetic Core Facility, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Ana I Robles
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Room 3068A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Mohammed Khan
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Room 3068A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Delphine Lissa
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Room 3068A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Masahiro Seike
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiko Gemma
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Mano
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Curtis C Harris
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Room 3068A, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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15
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Lang L, Xiong Y, Prieto-Dominguez N, Loveless R, Jensen C, Shay C, Teng Y. FGF19/FGFR4 signaling axis confines and switches the role of melatonin in head and neck cancer metastasis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:93. [PMID: 33691750 PMCID: PMC7945659 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01888-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is no consensus about the effective dosages of melatonin in cancer management, thus, it is imperative to fully understand the dose-dependent responsiveness of cancer cells to melatonin and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells with or without melatonin treatment were used as a research platform. Gene depletion was achieved by short hairpin RNA, small interfering RNA, and CRISPR/Cas9. Molecular changes and regulations were assessed by Western blotting, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and chromatin Immunoprecipitation coupled with qPCR (ChIP-qPCR). The therapeutic efficacy of FGF19/FGFR4 inhibition in melatonin-mediated tumor growth and metastasis was evaluated in orthotopic tongue tumor mice. RESULTS The effect of melatonin on controlling cell motility and metastasis varies in HNSCC cells, which is dose-dependent. Mechanistically, high-dose melatonin facilitates the upregulation of FGF19 expression through activating endoplasmic stress (ER)-associated protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)-Eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α)-activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) pathway, which in turn promotes FGFR4-Vimentin invasive signaling and attenuates the role of melatonin in repressing metastasis. Intriguingly, following long-term exposure to high-dose melatonin, epithelial HNSCC cells revert the process towards mesenchymal transition and turn more aggressive, which is enabled by FGF19/FGFR4 upregulation and alleviated by genetic depletion of the FGF19 and FGFR4 genes or the treatment of FGFR4 inhibitor H3B-6527. CONCLUSIONS Our study gains novel mechanistic insights into melatonin-mediated modulation of FGF19/FGFR4 signaling in HNSCC, demonstrating that activating this molecular node confines the role of melatonin in suppressing metastasis and even triggers the switch of its function from anti-metastasis to metastasis promotion. The blockade of FGF19/FGFR4 signaling would have great potential in improving the efficacy of melatonin supplements in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Lang
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Yuanping Xiong
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.,Present address: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Nestor Prieto-Dominguez
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Reid Loveless
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Caleb Jensen
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Chloe Shay
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory Children's Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA. .,Georgia Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA. .,Department of Medical Laboratory, Imaging and Radiologic Sciences, College of Allied Health, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
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16
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Akincilar SC, Chan CHT, Ng QF, Fidan K, Tergaonkar V. Non-canonical roles of canonical telomere binding proteins in cancers. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:4235-4257. [PMID: 33599797 PMCID: PMC8164586 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03783-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Reactivation of telomerase is a major hallmark observed in 90% of all cancers. Yet paradoxically, enhanced telomerase activity does not correlate with telomere length and cancers often possess short telomeres; suggestive of supplementary non-canonical roles that telomerase might play in the development of cancer. Moreover, studies have shown that aberrant expression of shelterin proteins coupled with their release from shortening telomeres can further promote cancer by mechanisms independent of their telomeric role. While targeting telomerase activity appears to be an attractive therapeutic option, this approach has failed in clinical trials due to undesirable cytotoxic effects on stem cells. To circumvent this concern, an alternative strategy could be to target the molecules involved in the non-canonical functions of telomeric proteins. In this review, we will focus on emerging evidence that has demonstrated the non-canonical roles of telomeric proteins and their impact on tumorigenesis. Furthermore, we aim to address current knowledge gaps in telomeric protein functions and propose future research approaches that can be undertaken to achieve this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semih Can Akincilar
- Division of Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Laboratory of NFκB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Proteos, 61, Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Claire Hian Tzer Chan
- Division of Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Laboratory of NFκB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Proteos, 61, Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Qin Feng Ng
- Division of Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Laboratory of NFκB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Proteos, 61, Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Kerem Fidan
- Division of Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Laboratory of NFκB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Proteos, 61, Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Vinay Tergaonkar
- Division of Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Laboratory of NFκB Signaling, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Proteos, 61, Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673, Singapore.
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore.
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17
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KDM6A-Mediated Expression of the Long Noncoding RNA DINO Causes TP53 Tumor Suppressor Stabilization in Human Papillomavirus 16 E7-Expressing Cells. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.02178-19. [PMID: 32269126 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02178-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) E7 has long been known to stabilize the tumor suppressor TP53. However, the molecular mechanism of TP53 stabilization by HPV16 E7 has remained obscure, and this stabilization can occur independently of the E2F-regulated MDM2 inhibitor p14ARF Here, we report that the damage-induced noncoding (DINO) lncRNA (DINOL) is the "missing link" between HPV16 E7 and increased TP53 levels. DINO levels are decreased in cells where TP53 is inactivated, either by HPV16 E6, by expression of a dominant negative TP53 minigene, or by TP53 depletion. DINO levels are increased in HPV16 E7-expressing cells. HPV16 E7 causes increased DINO expression independently of RB1 degradation and E2F1 activation. Similar to what is seen with the adjacent CDKN1A locus, DINO expression is regulated by the histone demethylase KDM6A. DINO stabilizes TP53 in HPV16 E7-expressing cells, and as it is a TP53 transcriptional target, DINO levels further increase. As with expression of other oncogenes, such as adenovirus E1A or MYC, HPV16 E7-expressing cells are sensitized to cell death under conditions of metabolic stress, which in the case of E7 has been linked to TP53 activation. Consistent with earlier studies, we show that HPV16 E7-expressing keratinocytes are highly sensitive to metabolic stress induced by starvation or the antidiabetic drug metformin. Sensitivity of HPV16 E7-expressing cells to metabolic stress is rescued by DINO depletion. Moreover, DINO depletion decreases sensitivity to the DNA damage-inducing chemotherapy agent doxorubicin. This work identifies DINO as a critical mediator of TP53 stabilization and activation in HPV16 E7-expressing cells.IMPORTANCE Viral oncoproteins, including HPV16 E6 and E7, have been instrumental in elucidating the activities of cellular signaling networks, including those governed by the TP53 tumor suppressor. Our study demonstrates that the long noncoding RNA DINO is the long-sought missing link between HPV16 E7 and elevated TP53 levels. Importantly, the TP53-stabilizing DINO plays a critical role in the cell death response of HPV16 E7-expressing cells to metabolic stress or DNA damage.
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18
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In Vitro Organotypic Systems to Model Tumor Microenvironment in Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Related Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12051150. [PMID: 32375253 PMCID: PMC7281263 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12051150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the well-known role of chronic human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in causing tumors (i.e., all cervical cancers and other human malignancies from the mucosal squamous epithelia, including anogenital and oropharyngeal cavity), its persistence is not sufficient for cancer development. Other co-factors contribute to the carcinogenesis process. Recently, the critical role of the underlying stroma during the HPV life cycle and HPV-induced disease have been investigated. The tumor stroma is a key component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is a specialized entity. The TME is dynamic, interactive, and constantly changing—able to trigger, support, and drive tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. In previous years, in vitro organotypic raft cultures and in vivo genetically engineered mouse models have provided researchers with important information on the interactions between HPVs and the epithelium. Further development for an in-depth understanding of the interaction between HPV-infected tissue and the surrounding microenvironment is strongly required. In this review, we critically describe the HPV-related cancers modeled in vitro from the simplified ‘raft culture’ to complex three-dimensional (3D) organotypic models, focusing on HPV-associated cervical cancer disease platforms. In addition, we review the latest knowledge in the field of in vitro culture systems of HPV-associated malignancies of other mucosal squamous epithelia (anogenital and oropharynx), as well as rare cutaneous non-melanoma associated cancer.
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19
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Hong YJ, Do JT. Neural Lineage Differentiation From Pluripotent Stem Cells to Mimic Human Brain Tissues. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2019; 7:400. [PMID: 31867324 PMCID: PMC6908493 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) research have turned limitations of prior and current research into possibilities. iPSCs can differentiate into the desired cell types, are easier to obtain than embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and more importantly, in case they are to be used in research on diseases, they can be obtained directly from the patient. With these advantages, differentiation of iPSCs into various cell types has been conducted in the fields of basic development, cell physiology, and cell therapy research. Differentiation of stem cells into nervous cells has been prevalent among all cell types studied. Starting with the monolayer 2D differentiation method where cells were attached to a dish, substantial efforts have been made to better mimic the in vivo environment and produce cells grown in vitro that closely resemble in vivo state cells. Having surpassed the stage of 3D differentiation, we have now reached the stage of creating tissues called organoids that resemble organs, rather than growing simple cells. In this review, we focus on the central nervous system (CNS) and describe the challenges faced in 2D and 3D differentiation research studies and the processes of overcoming them. We also discuss current studies and future perspectives on brain organoid researches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yean Ju Hong
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, KU Institute of Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jeong Tae Do
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, KU Institute of Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
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20
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Arjunan P, Meghil MM, Pi W, Xu J, Lang L, El-Awady A, Sullivan W, Rajendran M, Rabelo MS, Wang T, Tawfik OK, Kunde-Ramamoorthy G, Singh N, Muthusamy T, Susin C, Teng Y, Arce RM, Cutler CW. Oral Pathobiont Activates Anti-Apoptotic Pathway, Promoting both Immune Suppression and Oncogenic Cell Proliferation. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16607. [PMID: 30413788 PMCID: PMC6226501 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35126-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic periodontitis (CP) is a microbial dysbiotic disease linked to increased risk of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). To address the underlying mechanisms, mouse and human cell infection models and human biopsy samples were employed. We show that the ‘keystone’ pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis, disrupts immune surveillance by generating myeloid-derived dendritic suppressor cells (MDDSCs) from monocytes. MDDSCs inhibit CTLs and induce FOXP3 + Tregs through an anti-apoptotic pathway. This pathway, involving pAKT1, pFOXO1, FOXP3, IDO1 and BIM, is activated in humans with CP and in mice orally infected with Mfa1 expressing P. gingivalis strains. Mechanistically, activation of this pathway, demonstrating FOXP3 as a direct FOXO1-target gene, was demonstrated by ChIP-assay in human CP gingiva. Expression of oncogenic but not tumor suppressor markers is consistent with tumor cell proliferation demonstrated in OSCC-P. gingivalis cocultures. Importantly, FimA + P. gingivalis strain MFI invades OSCCs, inducing inflammatory/angiogenic/oncogenic proteins stimulating OSCCs proliferation through CXCR4. Inhibition of CXCR4 abolished Pg-MFI-induced OSCCs proliferation and reduced expression of oncogenic proteins SDF-1/CXCR4, plus pAKT1-pFOXO1. Conclusively, P. gingivalis, through Mfa1 and FimA fimbriae, promotes immunosuppression and oncogenic cell proliferation, respectively, through a two-hit receptor-ligand process involving DC-SIGN+hi/CXCR4+hi, activating a pAKT+hipFOXO1+hiBIM−lowFOXP3+hi and IDO+hi- driven pathway, likely to impact the prognosis of oral cancers in patients with periodontitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pachiappan Arjunan
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America.
| | - Mohamed M Meghil
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America.,Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jinxian Xu
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Liwei Lang
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Ahmed El-Awady
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - William Sullivan
- Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, California, United States of America
| | - Mythilypriya Rajendran
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mariana Sousa Rabelo
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America.,Department of Periodontics, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tong Wang
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Omnia K Tawfik
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Nagendra Singh
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cancer Research Center, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Thangaraju Muthusamy
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cancer Research Center, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Cristiano Susin
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Roger M Arce
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Christopher W Cutler
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America.
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21
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Hortua Triana MA, Márquez-Nogueras KM, Chang L, Stasic AJ, Li C, Spiegel KA, Sharma A, Li ZH, Moreno SNJ. Tagging of Weakly Expressed Toxoplasma gondii Calcium-Related Genes with High-Affinity Tags. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2018; 65:709-721. [PMID: 29672999 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Calcium ions regulate a diversity of cellular functions in all eukaryotes. The cytosolic Ca2+ concentration is tightly regulated at the physiological cytosolic concentration of 50-100 nm. The Toxoplasma gondii genome predicts the presence of several genes encoding potential Ca2+ channels, pumps, and transporters. Many of these genes are weakly expressed and likely tightly regulated due to their potential impact to the physiology of the cell. Endogenous tagging has been widely used to localize proteins in T. gondii but low level of expression of many of them makes visualization of tags difficult and sometimes impossible. The use of high-performance tags for labeling proteins expressed at low level is ideal for investigating the localization of these gene products. We designed a Carboxy-terminus tagging plasmid containing the previously characterized "spaghetti monster-HA" (smHA) or "spaghetti monster-MYC" (smMYC) tags. These tags consist of 10 copies of a single epitope (HA or MYC) inserted into a darkened green fluorescence protein scaffold. We localized six proteins of various levels of expression. Clonal lines were isolated and validated by PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence analyses. Some gene products were only visible when tagged with smHA and in one case the smHA revealed a novel localization previously undetected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miryam A Hortua Triana
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602
| | | | - Le Chang
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602
| | - Andrew J Stasic
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602
| | - Catherine Li
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602
| | - Kevin A Spiegel
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602
| | - Amrita Sharma
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602.,Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602
| | - Zhu-Hong Li
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602
| | - Silvia N J Moreno
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602.,Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602
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22
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Development and Characterisation of a Human Chronic Skin Wound Cell Line-Towards an Alternative for Animal Experimentation. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19041001. [PMID: 29584680 PMCID: PMC5979489 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19041001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Chronic skin wounds are a growing financial burden for healthcare providers, causing discomfort/immobility to patients. Whilst animal chronic wound models have been developed to allow for mechanistic studies and to develop/test potential therapies, such systems are not good representations of the human chronic wound state. As an alternative, human chronic wound fibroblasts (CWFs) have permitted an insight into the dysfunctional cellular mechanisms that are associated with these wounds. However, such cells strains have a limited replicative lifespan and therefore a limited reproducibility/usefulness. Objectives: To develop/characterise immortalised cell lines of CWF and patient-matched normal fibroblasts (NFs). Methods and Results: Immortalisation with human telomerase resulted in both CWF and NF proliferating well beyond their replicative senescence end-point (respective cell strains senesced as normal). Gene expression analysis demonstrated that, whilst proliferation-associated genes were up-regulated in the cell lines (as would be expected), the immortalisation process did not significantly affect the disease-specific genotype. Immortalised CWF (as compared to NF) also retained a distinct impairment in their wound repopulation potential (in line with CWF cell strains). Conclusions: These novel CWF cell lines are a credible animal alternative and could be a valuable research tool for understanding both the aetiology of chronic skin wounds and for therapeutic pre-screening.
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23
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Palani CD, Ramanathapuram L, Lam-Ubol A, Kurago ZB. Toll-like receptor 2 induces adenosine receptor A2a and promotes human squamous carcinoma cell growth via extracellular signal regulated kinases ½. Oncotarget 2017; 9:6814-6829. [PMID: 29467931 PMCID: PMC5805517 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Patient treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) not associated with Human papillomavirus remains problematic. OSCC microenvironment is typically inflamed and colonized by microorganisms, providing ligands for toll-like receptors (TLR). In immune cells TLR2 and TLR4 activate NF-kB and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 pathways, leading to upregulation of inhibitory adenosine receptors A2a and A2b, and reduction in stimulatory A1 and A3. How TLR and adenosine receptors function in SCC cells is not understood. To address this gap, we evaluated TLR and adenosine receptor expression and function in human OSCC cells and keratinocytes. TLR2 and A2a were co-expressed in pre-cancer and SCC cells of 17 oral specimens. In vitro, 5/6 OSCC lines expressed more TLR2 than TLR1, 4 or 6 mRNA. TLR2 ligands stimulated A2a expression in TLR2-high cell lines, but no A1 or A3 was detected with or without stimuli. In TLR2-high OSCC, TLR2/1, 2/6 and adenosine receptor agonists activated ERK1/2. TLR2-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation resulted in accumulation of c-FOS, ERK-dependent cell proliferation and reduced caspase-3 activity. Similar ERK1/2-dependent proliferation and decreased caspase-3 activity were caused by combined TLR2 and adenosine receptor stimuli. We conclude that TLR2 and adenosine receptor agonists, known to be present in the tumor microenvironment, may contribute to OSCC progression in part via direct effects on the ERK1/2 pathway in squamous carcinoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aroonwan Lam-Ubol
- Faculty of Dentistry Srinakharinwirot University, Wattana, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Zoya B Kurago
- Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
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24
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Hapangama DK, Kamal A, Saretzki G. Implications of telomeres and telomerase in endometrial pathology. Hum Reprod Update 2017; 23:166-187. [PMID: 27979878 PMCID: PMC5850744 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmw044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eukaryotic chromosomal ends are linear and are protected by nucleoprotein complexes known as telomeres. The complex structural anatomy and the diverse functions of telomeres as well as the unique reverse transcriptase enzyme, telomerase that maintains telomeres are under intensive scientific scrutiny. Both are involved in many human diseases including cancer, but also in ageing and chronic disease such as diabetes. Their intricate involvement in many cellular processes and pathways is being dynamically deciphered in many organs including the endometrium. This review summarizes our current knowledge on the topic of telomeres and telomerase and their potential role in providing plausible explanations for endometrial aberrations related to common gynaecological pathologies. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review outlines the recent major findings in telomere and telomerase functions in the context of endometrial biology. It highlights the contemporary discoveries in hormonal regulation, normal endometrial regeneration, stem cells and common gynaecological diseases such as endometriosis, infertility, recurrent reproductive failure and endometrial cancer (EC). SEARCH METHODS The authors carried out systematic PubMed (Medline) and Ovid searches using the key words: telomerase, telomeres, telomere length, human telomerase reverse transcriptase, telomeric RNA component, with endometrium, hormonal regulation, endometrial stem/progenitor cells, endometrial regeneration, endometriosis, recurrent miscarriage, infertility, endometrial hyperplasia, EC and uterine cancer. Publications used in this review date from 1995 until 31st June 2016. OUTCOMES The human endometrium is a unique somatic organ, which displays dynamic telomerase activity (TA) related to the menstrual cycle. Telomerase is implicated in almost all endometrial pathologies and appears to be crucial to endometrial stem cells. In particular, it is vital for normal endometrial regeneration, providing a distinct route to formulate possible curative, non-hormonal therapies to treat chronic endometrial conditions. Furthermore, our current understanding of telomere maintenance in EC is incomplete. Data derived from other malignancies on the role of telomerase in carcinogenesis cannot be extrapolated to EC because unlike in other cancers, TA is already present in proliferating healthy endometrial cells. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Since telomerase is pivotal to endometrial regeneration, further studies elucidating the role of telomeres, telomerase, their associated proteins and their regulation in normal endometrial regeneration as well as their role in endometrial pathologies are essential. This approach may allow future development of novel treatment strategies that are not only non-hormonal but also potentially curative.
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Affiliation(s)
- D K Hapangama
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L8 7SS, UK.,Liverpool Women's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Crown Street, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK
| | - A Kamal
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L8 7SS, UK.,The National Center for Early Detection of Cancer, Oncology Teaching Hospital, Baghdad Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - G Saretzki
- Institute for Ageing and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK
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25
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Kumar A, Nilednu P, Kumar A, Sharma NK. Epigenetic perturbation driving asleep telomerase reverse transcriptase: Possible therapeutic avenues in carcinoma. Tumour Biol 2017; 39:1010428317695951. [DOI: 10.1177/1010428317695951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, implications of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), a component of ribonucleoprotein telomerase in aging, senescence, and stem cell are highly evident. Besides, the activation of hTERT is also being documented several cancer types including carcinoma. The awakening of telomerase during carcinoma initiation and development is being seen with different perspectives including genetic and epigenetic tools and events. In view of several tumor progenitors genes (also referred as epigenetic mediators), telomerase is placed as key enzyme to achieve the carcinoma phenotype and sustain during the progression. It is true that swaying of telomerase in carcinoma could be facilitated with dedicated set of epigenetic modulators and modifiers players. These epigenetic alterations are heritable, potentially reversible, and seen as the epigenetic signature of carcinoma. Several papers converge to suggest that DNA methylation, histone modification, and small non-coding RNAs are the widely appreciated epigenetic changes towards hTERT modulation. In this review, we summarize the contribution of epigenetic factors in the telomerase activation and discuss potential avenues to achieve therapeutic intervention in carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Kumar
- Cancer and Translational Research Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Biotechnology & Bioinformatics Institute, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, Pune, India
| | - Pritish Nilednu
- Cancer and Translational Research Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Biotechnology & Bioinformatics Institute, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, Pune, India
| | - Azad Kumar
- Cancer and Translational Research Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Biotechnology & Bioinformatics Institute, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, Pune, India
| | - Nilesh Kumar Sharma
- Cancer and Translational Research Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Biotechnology & Bioinformatics Institute, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, Pune, India
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26
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Hang S, Tiwari AFY, Ngan HYS, Yip YL, Cheung ALM, Tsao SW, Deng W. Extremely stringent activation of p16INK4a prevents immortalization of uterine cervical epithelial cells without human papillomavirus oncogene expression. Oncotarget 2016; 7:45656-45670. [PMID: 27344169 PMCID: PMC5216750 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical epithelial cell immortalization with defined genetic factors without viral oncogenes has never been reported. Here we report that HPV-negative cervical epithelial cells failed to be immortalized by telomerase activation or the combination of p53 knockdown and telomerase activation. Under those conditions, p16INK4a expression was always elevated during the late stage of limited cell lifespan, suggesting that cervical epithelial cells possess an intrinsic property of uniquely stringent activation of p16INK4a, which may offer an explanation for the rarity of HPV-negative cervical cancer. Combining p16INK4a knockdown with telomerase activation resulted in efficient immortalization of HPV-negative cervical epithelial cells under ordinary culture conditions. Compared with the HPV16-E6E7-immortalized cell lines derived from the same primary cell sources, the novel HPV-negative immortalized cell lines had lower degrees of chromosomal instability, maintained more sensitive p53/p21 response to DNA damage, exhibited more stringent G2 checkpoint function, and were more resistant to replication-stress-induced genomic instability. The newly immortalized HPV-negative cervical epithelial cell lines were non-tumorigenic in nude mice. The cell lines can be used not only as much-needed HPV-negative non-malignant cell models but also as starting models that can be genetically manipulated in a stepwise fashion to investigate the roles of defined genetic alterations in the development of HPV-negative cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Hang
- School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.,College of Forensic Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shanxi Province, P.R. China
| | - Agnes F Y Tiwari
- School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Hextan Y S Ngan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Yim-Ling Yip
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Annie L M Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Sai Wah Tsao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Wen Deng
- School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
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27
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Bulysheva AA, Burcus N, Lundberg C, Edelblute CM, Francis MP, Heller R. Recellularized human dermis for testing gene electrotransfer ex vivo. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 11:035002. [PMID: 27121769 DOI: 10.1088/1748-6041/11/3/035002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Gene electrotransfer (GET) is a proven and valuable tool for in vivo gene delivery to a variety of tissues such as skin, cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, and tumors, with controllable gene delivery and expression levels. Optimizing gene expression is a challenging hurdle in preclinical studies, particularly for skin indications, due to differences in electrical conductivity of animal compared to human dermis. Therefore, the goal of this study was to develop an ex vivo model for GET using recellularized human dermis to more closely mimic human skin. Decellularized human dermis (DermACELL(®)) was cultured with human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes for 4 weeks. After one week of fibroblast culture, fibroblasts infiltrated and dispersed throughout the dermis. Air-liquid interface culture led to epithelial cell proliferation, stratification and terminal differentiation with distinct basal, spinous, granular and cornified strata. Firefly luciferase expression kinetics were evaluated after GET of recellularized constructs for testing gene delivery parameters to skin in vitro. Elevated luciferase expression persisted up to a week following GET compared to controls without electrotransfer. In summary, recellularized dermis structurally and functionally resembled native human skin in tissue histological organization and homeostasis, proving an effective 3D human skin model for preclinical gene delivery studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A Bulysheva
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
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28
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Leelakanok N, Fischer CL, Bates AM, Guthmiller JM, Johnson GK, Salem AK, Brogden KA, Brogden NK. Cytotoxicity of HBD3 for dendritic cells, normal human epidermal keratinocytes, hTERT keratinocytes, and primary oral gingival epithelial keratinocytes in cell culture conditions. Toxicol Lett 2015; 239:90-6. [PMID: 26367466 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2015.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2015] [Revised: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Human β-defensin 3 (HBD3) is a prominent host defense peptide. In our recent work, we observed that HBD3 modulates pro-inflammatory agonist-induced chemokine and cytokine responses in human myeloid dendritic cells (DCs), often at 20.0 μM concentrations. Since HBD3 can be cytotoxic in some circumstances, it is necessary to assess its cytotoxicity for DCs, normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs), human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) keratinocytes, and primary oral gingival epithelial (GE) keratinocytes in different cell culture conditions. Cells, in serum free media with resazurin and in complete media with 10% fetal bovine serum and resazurin, were incubated with 5, 10, 20, and 40 μM HBD3. Cytotoxicity was determined by measuring metabolic conversion of resazurin to resorufin. The lethal dose 50 (LD50, mean μM±Std Err) values were determined from the median fluorescent intensities of test concentrations compared to live and killed cell controls. The LD50 value range of HBD3 was 18.2-35.9 μM in serum-free media for DCs, NHEKs, hTERT keratinocytes, and GE keratinocytes, and >40.0 μM in complete media. Thus, HBD3 was cytotoxic at higher concentrations, which must be considered in future studies of HBD3-modulated chemokine and cytokine responses in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nattawut Leelakanok
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Carol L Fischer
- Dows Institute for Dental Research, College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Amber M Bates
- Dows Institute for Dental Research, College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Janet M Guthmiller
- College of Dentistry, The University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
| | - Georgia K Johnson
- Department of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Aliasger K Salem
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Kim A Brogden
- Dows Institute for Dental Research, College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Nicole K Brogden
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Translational Therapeutics, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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29
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Zappacosta R, Ianieri MM, Buca D, Repetti E, Ricciardulli A, Liberati M. Clinical Role of the Detection of Human Telomerase RNA Component Gene Amplification by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization on Liquid-Based Cervical Samples: Comparison with Human Papillomavirus-DNA Testing and Histopathology. Acta Cytol 2015; 59:345-54. [PMID: 26343271 DOI: 10.1159/000438719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was designed to evaluate whether the adjunct of human telomerase RNA component (hTERC) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis to cytological diagnosis and human papillomavirus (HPV)-DNA testing may serve as a predictive marker for distinguishing cervical lesions destined to regress from those at high risk of progression towards invasive cancer. STUDY DESIGN hTERC FISH analysis was performed on 54 residual liquid-based cytology specimens obtained from women referred to colposcopy for the detection of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or worse (ASCUS+) lesions. Histological diagnosis was considered the gold standard and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) as the worst outcome. RESULTS Oncogenic HPV-DNA was found in 96.3% of the specimens. Among these, 38.5% revealed a CIN2+ diagnosis. hTERC gene amplification was detected in 37% of the cases; among these, 70% showed up as CIN2+. hTERC FISH analysis significantly improves the specificity and positive predictive value of HPV-DNA testing, thus differentiating patients with a CIN2+ diagnosis from those with a CIN2- diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Despite the limitation of a small study sample, our findings provide promising data, indicating the possible role of hTERC analysis in the assessment of the risk of developing cervical cancer. This approach would implement the specificity of DNA testing, avoiding overtreatment at the same time. Prospective follow-up studies are needed with the aim of introducing hTERC FISH into decision-making algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Zappacosta
- Surgical Pathology Unit, x2018;SS Annunziata Hospital' of Chieti, Chieti Scalo, Italy
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30
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Bakulski KM, Fallin MD. Epigenetic epidemiology: promises for public health research. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2014; 55:171-83. [PMID: 24449392 PMCID: PMC4011487 DOI: 10.1002/em.21850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic changes underlie developmental and age related biology. Promising epidemiologic research implicates epigenetics in disease risk and progression, and suggests epigenetic status depends on environmental risks as well as genetic predisposition. Epigenetics may represent a mechanistic link between environmental exposures, or genetics, and many common diseases, or may simply provide a quantitative biomarker for exposure or disease for areas of epidemiology currently lacking such measures. This great promise is balanced by issues related to study design, measurement tools, statistical methods, and biological interpretation that must be given careful consideration in an epidemiologic setting. This article describes the promises and challenges for epigenetic epidemiology, and suggests directions to advance this emerging area of molecular epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly M Bakulski
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Center for Excellence in Genomic Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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Li H, Wawrose JS, Gooding WE, Garraway LA, Lui VWY, Peyser ND, Grandis JR. Genomic analysis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and human tumors: a rational approach to preclinical model selection. Mol Cancer Res 2014; 12:571-82. [PMID: 24425785 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-13-0396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide. The increasing amount of genomic information on human tumors and cell lines provides more biologic data to design preclinical studies. We and others previously reported whole-exome sequencing data of 106 HNSCC primary tumors. In 2012, high-throughput genomic data and pharmacologic profiling of anticancer drugs of hundreds of cancer cell lines were reported. Here, we compared the genomic data of 39 HNSCC cell lines with the genomic findings in 106 HNSCC tumors. Amplification of eight genes (PIK3CA, EGFR, CCND2, KDM5A, ERBB2, PMS1, FGFR1, and WHSCIL1) and deletion of five genes (CDKN2A, SMAD4, NOTCH2, NRAS, and TRIM33) were found in both HNSCC cell lines and tumors. Seventeen genes were only mutated in HNSCC cell lines (>10%), suggesting that these mutations may arise through immortalization in tissue culture. Conversely, 11 genes were only mutated in >10% of human HNSCC tumors. Several mutant genes in the EGF receptor (EGFR) pathway are shared both in cell lines and in tumors. Pharmacologic profiling of eight anticancer agents in six HNSCC cell lines suggested that PIK3CA mutation may serve as a predictive biomarker for the drugs targeting the EGFR/PI3K pathway. These findings suggest that a correlation of gene mutations between HNSCC cell lines and human tumors may be used to guide the selection of preclinical models for translational research. IMPLICATIONS These findings suggest that a correlation of gene mutations between HNSCC cell lines and human tumors may be used to guide the selection of preclinical models for translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Li
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 200 Lothrop Street, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
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Villenave R, Shields MD, Power UF. Respiratory syncytial virus interaction with human airway epithelium. Trends Microbiol 2013; 21:238-44. [PMID: 23523320 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2013.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2012] [Revised: 02/08/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Although respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major human respiratory pathogen, our knowledge of how it causes disease in humans is limited. Airway epithelial cells are the primary targets of RSV infection in vivo, so the generation and exploitation of RSV infection models based on morphologically and physiologically authentic well-differentiated primary human airway epithelial cells cultured at an air-liquid interface (WD-PAECs) provide timely developments that will help to bridge this gap. Here we review the interaction of RSV with WD-PAEC cultures, the authenticity of the RSV-WD-PAEC models relative to RSV infection of human airway epithelium in vivo, and future directions for their exploitation in our quest to understand RSV pathogenesis in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remi Villenave
- Centre for Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University Belfast, and The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
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Alibek K, Kakpenova A, Baiken Y. Role of infectious agents in the carcinogenesis of brain and head and neck cancers. Infect Agent Cancer 2013; 8:7. [PMID: 23374258 PMCID: PMC3573938 DOI: 10.1186/1750-9378-8-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2012] [Accepted: 01/21/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This review concentrates on tumours that are anatomically localised in head and neck regions. Brain cancers and head and neck cancers together account for more than 873,000 cases annually worldwide, with an increasing incidence each year. With poor survival rates at late stages, brain and head and neck cancers represent serious conditions. Carcinogenesis is a multi-step process and the role of infectious agents in this progression has not been fully identified. A major problem with such research is that the role of many infectious agents may be underestimated due to the lack of or inconsistency in experimental data obtained globally. In the case of brain cancer, no infection has been accepted as directly oncogenic, although a number of viruses and parasites are associated with the malignancy. Our analysis of the literature showed the presence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in distinct types of brain tumour, namely glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and medulloblastoma. In particular, there are reports of viral protein in up to 100% of GBM specimens. Several epidemiological studies reported associations of brain cancer and toxoplasmosis seropositivity. In head and neck cancers, there is a distinct correlation between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Considering that almost every undifferentiated NPC is EBV-positive, virus titer levels can be measured to screen high-risk populations. In addition there is an apparent association between human papilloma virus (HPV) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC); specifically, 26% of HNSCCs are positive for HPV. HPV type 16 was the most common type detected in HNSCCs (90%) and its dominance is even greater than that reported in cervical carcinoma. Although there are many studies showing an association of infectious agents with cancer, with various levels of involvement and either a direct or indirect causative effect, there is a scarcity of articles covering the role of infection in carcinogenesis of brain and head and neck cancers. We review recent studies on the infectious origin of these cancers and present our current understanding of carcinogenic mechanisms, thereby providing possible novel approaches to cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Alibek
- Nazarbayev University, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan.
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Mosher AA, Rainey KJ, Bolstad SS, Lye SJ, Mitchell BF, Olson DM, Wood SL, Slater DM. Development and validation of primary human myometrial cell culture models to study pregnancy and labour. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2013; 13 Suppl 1:S7. [PMID: 23445904 PMCID: PMC3561148 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2393-13-s1-s7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The development of the in vitro cell culture model has greatly facilitated the ability to study gene expression and regulation within human tissues. Within the human uterus, the upper (fundal) segment and the lower segment may provide distinct functions throughout pregnancy and during labour. We have established primary cultured human myometrial cells, isolated from both upper and lower segment regions of the pregnant human uterus, and validated them for the purpose of studying human pregnancy and labour. The specific objectives of this study were to monitor the viability and characterize the expression profile using selected cellular, contractile and pregnancy associated markers in the primary cultured human myometrial cells. Labour has been described as an inflammatory process; therefore, the ability of these cells to respond to an inflammatory stimulus was also investigated. Methods Myometrial cells isolated from paired upper segment (US) and lower segment (LS) biopsies, obtained from women undergoing Caesarean section deliveries at term prior to the onset of labour, were used to identify expression of; α smooth muscle actin, calponin, caldesmon, connexin 43, cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), oxytocin receptor, tropomyosin and vimentin, by RT-PCR and/or immunocytochemistry. Interleukin (IL)-1β was used to treat cells, subsequently expression of COX-2 mRNA and release of interleukin-8 (CXCL8), were measured. ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s multiple comparisons test was performed. Results We demonstrate that US and LS human myometrial cells stably express all markers examined to at least passage ten (p10). Connexin 43, COX-2 and vimentin mRNA expression were significantly higher in LS cells compared to US cells. Both cell populations respond to IL-1β, demonstrated by a robust release of CXCL8 and increased expression of COX-2 mRNA from passage one (p1) through to p10. Conclusions Isolated primary myometrial cells maintain expression of smooth muscle and pregnancy-associated markers and retain their ability to respond to an inflammatory stimulus. These distinct myometrial cell models will provide a useful tool to investigate mechanisms underlying the process of human labour and the concept of functional regionalization of the pregnant uterus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea A Mosher
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Fiorentino FP, Marchesi I, Giordano A. On the role of retinoblastoma family proteins in the establishment and maintenance of the epigenetic landscape. J Cell Physiol 2013; 228:276-84. [PMID: 22718354 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
RB family members are negative regulators of the cell cycle, involved in numerous biological processes such as cellular senescence, development and differentiation. Disruption of RB family pathways are linked to loss of cell cycle control, cellular immortalization and cancer. RB family, and in particular the most studied member RB/p105, has been considered a tumor suppressor gene by more than three decades, and numerous efforts have been done to understand his molecular activity. However, the epigenetic mechanisms behind Rb-mediated tumor suppression have been uncovered only in recent years. In this review, the role of RB family members in cancer epigenetics will be discussed. We start with an introduction to epigenomes, chromatin modifications and cancer epigenetics. In order to provide a clear picture of the involvement of RB family in the epigenetic field, we describe the RB family role in the epigenetic landscape dynamics based on the heterochromatin variety involved, facultative or constitutive. We want to stress that, despite dissimilar modulations, RB family is involved in both mammalian varieties of heterochromatin establishment and maintenance and that disruption of RB family pathways drives to alterations of both heterochromatin structures, thus to the global epigenetic landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Paolo Fiorentino
- Department of Biology, Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, USA.
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Piper SL, Wang M, Yamamoto A, Malek F, Luu A, Kuo AC, Kim HT. Inducible immortality in hTERT-human mesenchymal stem cells. J Orthop Res 2012; 30:1879-85. [PMID: 22674533 DOI: 10.1002/jor.22162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2011] [Accepted: 05/09/2012] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are attractive candidates for tissue engineering and cell-based therapy because of their multipotentiality and availability in adult donors. However, in vitro expansion and differentiation of these cells is limited by replicative senescence. The proliferative capacity of hMSCs can be enhanced by ectopic expression of telomerase, allowing for long-term culture. However, hMSCs with constitutive telomerase expression demonstrate unregulated growth and even tumor formation. To address this problem, we used an inducible Tet-On gene expression system to create hMSCs in which ectopic telomerase expression can be induced selectively by the addition of doxycycline (i-hTERT hMSCs). i-hTERT hMSCs have inducible hTERT expression and telomerase activity, and are able to proliferate significantly longer than wild type hMSCs when hTERT expression is induced. They stop proliferating when hTERT expression is turned off and can be rescued when expression is re-induced. They retain multipotentiality in vitro even at an advanced age. We also used a selective inhibitor of telomere elongation to show that the mechanism driving immortalization of hMSCs by hTERT is dependent upon maintenance of telomere length. Thanks to their extended lifespan, preserved multipotentiality and controlled growth, i-hTERT hMSCs may prove to be a useful tool for the development and testing of novel stem cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L Piper
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Francisco, 500 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, California 94143, USA
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Boccellino M, Quagliuolo L, Verde A, La Porta R, Crispi S, Piccolo MT, Vitiello A, Baldi A, Signorile PG. In vitro model of stromal and epithelial immortalized endometriotic cells. J Cell Biochem 2012; 113:1292-301. [PMID: 22109698 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Endometriosis is a relatively common chronic gynecologic disorder that usually presents with chronic pelvic pain or infertility. It results from implantation of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Despite its frequency and its impact on quality of life, the understanding of pathogenesis of endometriosis remains incomplete and its treatment remains controversial. In this work, we established a suitable in vitro model system of immortalized human endometriotic cell line taking advantage of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase. The results demonstrate that these cells retain the natural characteristics of endometrial cells in term of phenotype and of functional expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, without chromosomal abnormalities. In conclusion, these cells are potentially useful as an experimental model to investigate endometriosis biology.
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The isoprenoid perillyl alcohol inhibits telomerase activity in prostate cancer cells. Biochimie 2012; 94:2639-48. [PMID: 22902867 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2012.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2012] [Accepted: 07/31/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Isoprenoids are recognized for their ability to suppress carcinogenic processes in vivo and in vitro. We previously established that the isoprenoid, perillyl alcohol, acted mechanistically on translation of specific proteins through modulation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Telomerase-the enzyme responsible for immortalizing cells through the addition of telomeric repeats-is de-repressed early in an aspiring cancer cell. Here the effects of biologically-relevant concentrations and short incubations (1-16 h) of perillyl alcohol or the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, on telomerase activity were examined in prostate cancer cell lines. A rapid suppression of telomerase activity was observed (from ∼65% to >95%) determined by real-time quantitative telomerase repeat amplification protocol and confirmed by polyacrylamide gel-analysis. Using real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR, we demonstrated that human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA levels were unaltered. Western blot analysis revealed that hTERT protein levels decreased in response to perillyl alcohol or rapamycin. This decrease was partially blocked by pretreatment with a proteasome inhibitor MG-132, indicating that proteasomal degradation contributed to the loss of hTERT protein. No change in hTERT phosphorylation at Ser824 was observed, indicating the absence of cellular hTERT protein redistribution. These findings provide evidence for a unique link between nutrient- and macrolide-mediated regulation of mTOR and hTERT, a key enzyme that regulates DNA structure and stability.
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Rubtsova M, Vasilkova D, Malyavko A, Naraikina Y, Zvereva M, Dontsova O. Telomere lengthening and other functions of telomerase. Acta Naturae 2012; 4:44-61. [PMID: 22872811 PMCID: PMC3408703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains the length of the telomere. The telomere length specifies the number of divisions a cell can undergo before it finally dies (i.e. the proliferative potential of cells). For example, telomerase is activated in embryonic cell lines and the telomere length is maintained at a constant level; therefore, these cells have an unlimited fission potential. Stem cells are characterized by a lower telomerase activity, which enables only partial compensation for the shortening of telomeres. Somatic cells are usually characterized by the absence of telomerase activity. Telomere shortening leads to the attainment of the Hayflick limit, the transition of cells to a state of senescence. The cells subsequently enter a state of crisis, accompanied by massive cell death. The surviving cells become cancer cells, which are capable both of dividing indefinitely and maintaining telomere length (usually with the aid of telomerase). Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase. It consists of two major components: telomerase RNA (TER) and reverse transcriptase (TERT). TER is a non-coding RNA, and it contains the region which serves as a template for telomere synthesis. An increasing number of articles focussing on the alternative functions of telomerase components have recently started appearing. The present review summarizes data on the structure, biogenesis, and functions of telomerase.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.P. Rubtsova
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Chemistry Department
- Belozersky Institute of Physicochemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State
University
| | | | - A.N. Malyavko
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Chemistry Department
| | - Yu.V. Naraikina
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Bioengineering and
Bioinformatics
| | - M.I. Zvereva
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Chemistry Department
- Belozersky Institute of Physicochemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State
University
| | - O.A. Dontsova
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Chemistry Department
- Belozersky Institute of Physicochemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State
University
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Regulation of the human catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT). Gene 2012; 498:135-46. [PMID: 22381618 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.01.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2011] [Revised: 01/29/2012] [Accepted: 01/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decade, there has been much interest in the regulation of telomerase, the enzyme responsible for maintaining the integrity of chromosomal ends, and its crucial role in cellular immortalization, tumorigenesis, and the progression of cancer. Telomerase activity is characterized by the expression of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene, suggesting that TERT serves as the major limiting agent for telomerase activity. Recent discoveries have led to characterization of various interactants that aid in the regulation of human TERT (hTERT), including numerous transcription factors; further supporting the pivotal role that transcription plays in both the expression and repression of telomerase. Several studies have suggested that epigenetic modulation of the hTERT core promoter region may provide an additional level of regulation. Although these studies have provided essential information on the regulation of hTERT, there has been ambiguity of the role of methylation within the core promoter region and the subsequent binding of various activating and repressive agents. As a result, we found it necessary to consolidate and summarize these recent developments and elucidate these discrepancies. In this review, we focus on the co-regulation of hTERT via transcriptional regulation, the presence or absence of various activators and repressors, as well as the epigenetic pathways of DNA methylation and histone modifications.
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Bulysheva AA, Bowlin GL, Klingelhutz AJ, Yeudall WA. Low-temperature electrospun silk scaffold for in vitro mucosal modeling. J Biomed Mater Res A 2012; 100:757-67. [PMID: 22238242 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.33288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2011] [Revised: 09/28/2011] [Accepted: 09/29/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Electrospinning is often used to create scaffolding as a biomimetic of the extracellular matrix of tissues. A frequent limitation of this technique for three-dimensional tissue modeling is poor cell infiltration throughout the void volume of scaffolds. Here, we generated low-temperature electrospun silk scaffolds and compared these with conventional electrospun silk scaffolds in terms of mechanical properties, void volume, cell infiltration, cell viability, and potential to support mucosal models under three-dimensional culture conditions. Low-temperature electrospun silk scaffolds supported fibroblast attachment and infiltration throughout the volume of the scaffolds, while conventional electrospun scaffolds exhibited limited cell infiltration with fibroblasts attaching exclusively to the seeding surface of the scaffolds. The porosity of low-temperature electrospun scaffolds was 93% compared with 88% of conventional electrospun silk scaffolds. Uniaxial tensile testing showed a 3.5-fold reduction in strength of low-temperature electrospun silk compared with the conventional in terms of peak stress and modulus but no significant change in strain at break. Mucosal modeling with fibroblast-keratinocyte or fibroblast-carcinoma cocultures showed similar results, with cell infiltration occurring only in low-temperature electrospun scaffolds. Cell viability was confirmed using live/dead staining after 21 days in culture. Furthermore, low-temperature electrospun silk scaffolds were able to support keratinocyte differentiation, as judged by involucrin immunoreactivity. The low-temperature electrospun silk scaffold that we have developed eliminates the limitation of electrospun silk scaffolds in terms of cell infiltration and, therefore, can potentially be used for a wide range of tissue engineering purposes ranging from in vitro tissue modeling to in vivo tissue regeneration purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A Bulysheva
- VCU Philips Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA
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Raab M, Kappel S, Krämer A, Sanhaji M, Matthess Y, Kurunci-Csacsko E, Calzada-Wack J, Rathkolb B, Rozman J, Adler T, Busch DH, Esposito I, Fuchs H, Gailus-Durner V, Klingenspor M, Wolf E, Sänger N, Prinz F, Angelis MHD, Seibler J, Yuan J, Bergmann M, Knecht R, Kreft B, Strebhardt K. Toxicity modelling of Plk1-targeted therapies in genetically engineered mice and cultured primary mammalian cells. Nat Commun 2011; 2:395. [PMID: 21772266 PMCID: PMC3144583 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2010] [Accepted: 06/16/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
High attrition rates of novel anti-cancer drugs highlight the need for improved models to predict toxicity. Although polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) inhibitors are attractive candidates for drug development, the role of Plk1 in primary cells remains widely unexplored. Therefore, we evaluated the utility of an RNA interference-based model to assess responses to an inducible knockdown (iKD) of Plk1 in adult mice. Here we show that Plk1 silencing can be achieved in several organs, although adverse events are rare. We compared responses in Plk1-iKD mice with those in primary cells kept under controlled culture conditions. In contrast to the addiction of many cancer cell lines to the non-oncogene Plk1, the primary cells' proliferation, spindle assembly and apoptosis exhibit only a low dependency on Plk1. Responses to Plk1-depletion, both in cultured primary cells and in our iKD-mouse model, correspond well and thus provide the basis for using validated iKD mice in predicting responses to therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Raab
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, UKE Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Sven Kappel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Andrea Krämer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Mourad Sanhaji
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Yves Matthess
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kurunci-Csacsko
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Julia Calzada-Wack
- Institute of Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstaedter Landstrasse, 85764 Munich/Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Birgit Rathkolb
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstaedter Landstrasse, 85764 Munich/Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Jan Rozman
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstaedter Landstrasse, 85764 Munich/Neuherberg, Germany
- Molecular Nutritional Medicine, Else Kröner-Fresenius Center, Technische Universität München, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 2, 85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Thure Adler
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstaedter Landstrasse, 85764 Munich/Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Trogerstrasse 30, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk H. Busch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Trogerstrasse 30, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Irene Esposito
- Institute of Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstaedter Landstrasse, 85764 Munich/Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Technische Universität München, Ismaningerstrasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Helmut Fuchs
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstaedter Landstrasse, 85764 Munich/Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Valérie Gailus-Durner
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstaedter Landstrasse, 85764 Munich/Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Martin Klingenspor
- Molecular Nutritional Medicine, Else Kröner-Fresenius Center, Technische Universität München, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 2, 85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Nicole Sänger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Florian Prinz
- Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Global Drug Discovery, Therapeutic Research Group Oncology, Müllerstrasse 178, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Hrabě de Angelis
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Ingolstaedter Landstrasse, 85764 Munich/Neuherberg, Germany
- Lehrstuhl für Experimentelle Genetik, Technische Universität München, Emil-Ramann-Strasse 8, 85350 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Jost Seibler
- TaconicArtemis GmbH, Neurather Ring 1, 51063 Köln, Germany
| | - Juping Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Martin Bergmann
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Giessen, Frankfurterstrasse 98, 35392GiessenGermany
| | - Rainald Knecht
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, UKE Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bertolt Kreft
- Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Global Drug Discovery, Therapeutic Research Group Oncology, Müllerstrasse 178, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Strebhardt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
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Lee KM, Choi KH, Ouellette MM. Use of exogenous hTERT to immortalize primary human cells. Cytotechnology 2011; 45:33-8. [PMID: 19003241 DOI: 10.1007/10.1007/s10616-004-5123-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2004] [Accepted: 09/21/2004] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A major obstacle to the immortalization of primary human cells and the establishment of human cell lines is telomere-controlled senescence. Telomere-controlled senescence is caused by the shortening of telomeres that occurs each time somatic human cells divide. The enzyme telomerase can prevent the erosion of telomeres and block the onset of telomere-controlled senescence, but its expression is restricted to the early stages of embryonic development, and in the adult, to rare cells of the blood, skin and digestive track. However, we and others have shown that the transfer of an exogenous hTERT cDNA, encoding the catalytic subunit of human telomerase, can be used to prevent telomere shortening, overcome telomere-controlled senescence, and immortalize primary human cells. Most importantly, hTERT alone can immortalize cells without causing cancer-associated changes or altering phenotypic properties. Primary human cells that have so far been established by the forced expression of hTERT alone include fibroblasts, retinal pigmented epithelial cells, endothelial cells, oesophageal squamous cells, mammary epithelial cells, keratinocytes, osteoblasts, and Nestin-positive cells of the pancreas. In this article, we discuss the use of hTERT to immortalize of human cells, the properties of hTERT-immortalized cells, and their applications to cancer research and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang M Lee
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986805 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA, 68198
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Majerská J, Sýkorová E, Fajkus J. Non-telomeric activities of telomerase. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2011; 7:1013-23. [DOI: 10.1039/c0mb00268b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Liu S, Hatton MP, Khandelwal P, Sullivan DA. Culture, immortalization, and characterization of human meibomian gland epithelial cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2010; 51:3993-4005. [PMID: 20335607 PMCID: PMC2910637 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.09-5108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2009] [Revised: 02/22/2010] [Accepted: 02/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Meibomian gland epithelial cells are essential in maintaining the health and integrity of the ocular surface. However, very little is known about their physiological regulation. In this study, the cellular control mechanisms were explored, first to establish a defined culture system for the maintenance of primary epithelial cells from human meibomian glands and, second, to immortalize these cells, thereby developing a preclinical model that could be used to identify factors that regulate cell activity. METHODS Human meibomian glands were removed from lid segments after surgery, enzymatically digested, and dissociated. Isolated epithelial cells were cultured in media with or without serum and/or 3T3 feeder layers. To attempt immortalization, the cells were exposed to retroviral human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and/or SV40 large T antigen cDNA vectors, and antibiotic-resistant cells were selected, expanded, and subcultured. Analyses for possible biomarkers, cell proliferation and differentiation, lipid-related enzyme gene expression, and the cellular response to androgen were performed with biochemical, histologic, and molecular biological techniques. RESULTS It was possible to isolate viable human meibomian gland epithelial cells and to culture them in serum-free medium. These cells proliferated, survived through at least the fifth passage, and contained neutral lipids. Infection with hTERT immortalized these cells, which accumulated neutral lipids during differentiation, expressed multiple genes for lipogenic enzymes, responded to androgen, and continued to proliferate. CONCLUSIONS The results show that human meibomian gland epithelial cells may be isolated, cultured, and immortalized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohui Liu
- From the Schepens Eye Research Institute and
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and
| | - Mark P. Hatton
- From the Schepens Eye Research Institute and
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and
- Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Payal Khandelwal
- From the Schepens Eye Research Institute and
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and
| | - David A. Sullivan
- From the Schepens Eye Research Institute and
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and
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Pittayakhajonwut D, Angeletti PC. Viral trans-factor independent replication of human papillomavirus genomes. Virol J 2010; 7:123. [PMID: 20537170 PMCID: PMC2893153 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-7-123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2010] [Accepted: 06/10/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Papillomaviruses (PVs) establish a persistent infection in the proliferating basal cells of the epithelium. The viral genome is replicated and maintained as a low-copy nuclear plasmid in basal keratinocytes. Bovine and human papillomaviruses (BPV and HPV) are known to utilize two viral proteins; E1, a DNA helicase, and E2, a transcription factor, which have been considered essential for viral DNA replication. However, growing evidence suggests that E1 and E2 are not entirely essential for stable replication of HPV. RESULTS Here we report that multiple HPV16 mutants, lacking either or both E1 and E2 open reading frame (ORFs) and the long control region (LCR), still support extrachromosomal replication. Our data clearly indicate that HPV16 has a mode of replication, independent of viral trans-factors, E1 and E2, which is achieved by origin activity located outside of the LCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daraporn Pittayakhajonwut
- Nebraska Center for Virology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0900, USA
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Epstein-Barr virus-encoded LMP2A induces an epithelial-mesenchymal transition and increases the number of side population stem-like cancer cells in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. PLoS Pathog 2010; 6:e1000940. [PMID: 20532215 PMCID: PMC2880580 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2009] [Accepted: 05/05/2010] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been recently reported that a side population of cells in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) displayed characteristics of stem-like cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the modulation of such stem-like cell populations in NPC remain unclear. Epstein-Barr virus was the first identified human tumor virus to be associated with various malignancies, most notably NPC. LMP2A, the Epstein-Barr virus encoded latent protein, has been reported to play roles in oncogenic processes. We report by immunostaining in our current study that LMP2A is overexpressed in 57.6% of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumors sampled and is mainly localized at the tumor invasive front. We found also in NPC cells that the exogenous expression of LMP2A greatly increases their invasive/migratory ability, induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like cellular marker alterations, and stimulates stem cell side populations and the expression of stem cell markers. In addition, LMP2A enhances the transforming ability of cancer cells in both colony formation and soft agar assays, as well as the self-renewal ability of stem-like cancer cells in a spherical culture assay. Additionally, LMP2A increases the number of cancer initiating cells in a xenograft tumor formation assay. More importantly, the endogenous expression of LMP2A positively correlates with the expression of ABCG2 in NPC samples. Finally, we demonstrate that Akt inhibitor (V) greatly decreases the size of the stem cell side populations in LMP2A-expressing cells. Taken together, our data indicate that LMP2A induces EMT and stem-like cell self-renewal in NPC, suggesting a novel mechanism by which Epstein-Barr virus induces the initiation, metastasis and recurrence of NPC.
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Miranda K, Pace DA, Cintron R, Rodrigues JCF, Fang J, Smith A, Rohloff P, Coelho E, de Haas F, de Souza W, Coppens I, Sibley LD, Moreno SNJ. Characterization of a novel organelle in Toxoplasma gondii with similar composition and function to the plant vacuole. Mol Microbiol 2010; 76:1358-75. [PMID: 20398214 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07165.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa and is an important cause of congenital disease and infection in immunocompromised patients. Like most apicomplexans, T. gondii possesses several plant-like features, such as the chloroplast-like organelle, the apicoplast. We describe and characterize a novel organelle in T. gondii tachyzoites, which is visible by light microscopy and possesses a broad similarity to the plant vacuole. Electron tomography shows the interaction of this vacuole with other organelles. The presence of a plant-like vacuolar proton pyrophosphatase (TgVP1), a vacuolar proton ATPase, a cathepsin L-like protease (TgCPL), an aquaporin (TgAQP1), as well as Ca(2+)/H(+) and Na(+)/H(+) exchange activities, supports similarity to the plant vacuole. Biochemical characterization of TgVP1 in enriched fractions shows a functional similarity to the respective plant enzyme. The organelle is a Ca(2+) store and appears to have protective effects against salt stress potentially linked to its sodium transport activity. In intracellular parasites, the organelle fragments, with some markers colocalizing with the late endosomal marker, Rab7, suggesting its involvement with the endocytic pathway. Studies on the characterization of this novel organelle will be relevant to the identification of novel targets for chemotherapy against T. gondii and other apicomplexan parasites as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kildare Miranda
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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Gazdar AF, Gao B, Minna JD. Lung cancer cell lines: Useless artifacts or invaluable tools for medical science? Lung Cancer 2010; 68:309-18. [PMID: 20079948 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2009.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2009] [Accepted: 12/09/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Multiple cell lines (estimated at 300-400) have been established from human small cell (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). These cell lines have been widely dispersed to and used by the scientific community worldwide, with over 8000 citations resulting from their study. However, there remains considerable skepticism on the part of the scientific community as to the validity of research resulting from their use. These questions center around the genomic instability of cultured cells, lack of differentiation of cultured cells and absence of stromal-vascular-inflammatory cell compartments. In this report we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the use of cell lines, address the issues of instability and lack of differentiation. Perhaps the most important finding is that every important, recurrent genetic and epigenetic change including gene mutations, deletions, amplifications, translocations and methylation-induced gene silencing found in tumors has been identified in cell lines and vice versa. These "driver mutations" represented in cell lines offer opportunities for biological characterization and application to translational research. Another potential shortcoming of cell lines is the difficulty of studying multistage pathogenesis in vitro. To overcome this problem, we have developed cultures from central and peripheral airways that serve as models for the multistage pathogenesis of tumors arising in these two very different compartments. Finally the issue of cell line contamination must be addressed and safeguarded against. A full understanding of the advantages and shortcomings of cell lines is required for the investigator to derive the maximum benefit from their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi F Gazdar
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-8593, USA.
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