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Vlodavsky I, Hilwi M, Kayal Y, Soboh S, Ilan N. Impact of heparanase-2 (Hpa2) on cancer and inflammation: Advances and paradigms. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23670. [PMID: 38747803 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202400286r] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
HPSE2, the gene-encoding heparanase 2 (Hpa2), is mutated in urofacial syndrome (UFS), a rare autosomal recessive congenital disease attributed to peripheral neuropathy. Hpa2 lacks intrinsic heparan sulfate (HS)-degrading activity, the hallmark of heparanase (Hpa1), yet it exhibits a high affinity toward HS, thereby inhibiting Hpa1 enzymatic activity. Hpa2 regulates selected genes that promote normal differentiation, tissue homeostasis, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, resulting in antitumor, antiangiogenic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Importantly, stress conditions induce the expression of Hpa2, thus establishing a feedback loop, where Hpa2 enhances ER stress which, in turn, induces Hpa2 expression. In most cases, cancer patients who retain high levels of Hpa2 survive longer than patients bearing Hpa2-low tumors. Experimentally, overexpression of Hpa2 attenuates the growth of tumor xenografts, whereas Hpa2 gene silencing results in aggressive tumors. Studies applying conditional Hpa2 knockout (cHpa2-KO) mice revealed an essential involvement of Hpa2 contributed by the host in protecting against cancer and inflammation. This was best reflected by the distorted morphology of the Hpa2-null pancreas, including massive infiltration of immune cells, acinar to adipocyte trans-differentiation, and acinar to ductal metaplasia. Moreover, orthotopic inoculation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells into the pancreas of Hpa2-null vs. wild-type mice yielded tumors that were by far more aggressive. Likewise, intravenous inoculation of cancer cells into cHpa2-KO mice resulted in a dramatically increased lung colonization reflecting the involvement of Hpa2 in restricting the formation of a premetastatic niche. Elucidating Hpa2 structure-activity-relationships is expected to support the development of Hpa2-based therapies against cancer and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israel Vlodavsky
- Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Maram Hilwi
- Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yasmin Kayal
- Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Soaad Soboh
- Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Neta Ilan
- Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
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2
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van Eijck CWF, Real FX, Malats N, Vadgama D, van den Bosch TPP, Doukas M, van Eijck CHJ, Mustafa DAM. GATA6 identifies an immune-enriched phenotype linked to favorable outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing upfront surgery. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101557. [PMID: 38733987 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101557] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
This study underscores GATA6's role in distinguishing classical and basal-like pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) phenotypes. Retrospective studies associate GATA6 immunohistochemistry (IHC) expression with survival outcomes, warranting prospective validation. In a prospective treatment-naive cohort of patients with resected PDAC, GATA6 IHC proves a prognostic discriminator, associating high GATA6 expression with extended survival and the classical PDAC phenotype. However, GATA6's prognostic significance is numerically lower after gemcitabine-based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy compared to its significance in patients treated with upfront surgery. Furthermore, GATA6 is implicated in immunomodulation, although a comprehensive investigation of its immunological role is lacking. Treatment-naive PDAC tumors with varying GATA6 expression yield distinct immunological landscapes. Tumors highly expressing GATA6 show reduced infiltration of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells and M2 macrophages but increased infiltration of immune-stimulating, antigen-presenting, and activated T cells. Our findings caution against solely relying on GATA6 for molecular subtyping in clinical trials and open avenues for exploring immune-based combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casper W F van Eijck
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Francisco X Real
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer, Madrid, Spain; Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Malats
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red-Cáncer, Madrid, Spain
| | - Disha Vadgama
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Thierry P P van den Bosch
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michail Doukas
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Casper H J van Eijck
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dana A M Mustafa
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; The Tumor Immuno-Pathology Laboratory, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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3
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Zhang HQ, Kong F, Kong X, Jiang T, Ma M, Zheng S, Guo J, Xie K. Loss of GATA6-mediated up-regulation of UTX promotes pancreatic tumorigenesis and progression. Genes Dis 2024; 11:921-934. [PMID: 37692474 PMCID: PMC10491869 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat on chromosome X (UTX), also known as lysine (K)-specific demethylase 6A (KDM6A), functions as a tumor suppressor gene or oncogene depending on the tumor type and context. However, its tumor-suppressive mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the clinical significance and biological effects of UTX expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and determined the potential mechanisms of its dysregulation. UTX expression and its association with clinicopathologic characteristics of PDA patients were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. UTX mRNA and protein expression and their regulation in PDA cell lines were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. The biological functions of UTX in PDA cell growth, migration, and invasion were determined using gain- and loss-of-function assays with both in vitro and in vivo animal models. UTX expression was reduced in human PDA cell lines and specimens. Low UTX expression was associated with poor differentiation and prognosis in PDA. Forced UTX expression inhibited PDA proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and PDA growth and metastasis in vivo, whereas knockdown of UTX expression did the opposite. Mechanistically, UTX expression was trans-activated by GATA6 activation. GATA6-mediated PDA progression could be blocked, at least partially, by silencing UTX expression. In conclusion, loss of GATA6-mediated UTX expression was evident in human PDA and restored UTX expression suppressed PDA growth and metastasis. Thus, UTX is a tumor suppressor in PDA and may serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Qing Zhang
- The Third Department of Medical Oncology, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China
| | - Fanyang Kong
- Departments of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiangyu Kong
- Departments of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Tingting Jiang
- Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Muyuan Ma
- Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Shaojiang Zheng
- Hainan Clinical Medical Research Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570102, China
| | - Junli Guo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Cardiovascular Diseases Research of Hainan Province, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 571199, China
| | - Keping Xie
- Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
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4
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Greendyk JD, Allen WE, Alexander HR, Beninato T, Eskander MF, Grandhi MS, Kennedy TJ, Langan RC, Maggi JC, De S, Court CM, Ecker BL. Association between SMAD4 Mutations and GATA6 Expression in Paired Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Tumor Specimens: Data from Two Independent Molecularly-Characterized Cohorts. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3058. [PMID: 38002058 PMCID: PMC10669842 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11113058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Several molecular biomarkers have been identified to guide induction treatment selection for localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). SMAD4 alterations and low GATA6 expression/modified "Moffitt" basal-like phenotype have each been associated with inferior survival uniquely for patients receiving 5-FU-based therapies. SMAD4 may directly regulate the expression of GATA6 in PDAC, pointing to a common predictive biomarker. To evaluate the relationship between SMAD4 mutations and GATA6 expression in human PDAC tumors, patients with paired SMAD4 mutation and GATA6 mRNA expression data in the TCGA and CPTAC were identified. In 321 patients (TCGA: n = 180; CPTAC: n = 141), the rate of SMAD4 alterations was 26.8%. The rate of SMAD4 alteration did not vary per tertile of normalized GATA6 expression (TCGA: p = 0.928; CPTAC: p = 0.828). In the TCGA, SMAD4 alterations and the basal-like phenotype were each associated with worse survival (log rank p = 0.077 and p = 0.080, respectively), but their combined presence did not identify a subset with uniquely inferior survival (p = 0.943). In the CPTAC, the basal-like phenotype was associated with significantly worse survival (p < 0.001), but the prognostic value was not influenced by the combined presence of SMAD4 alterations (p = 0.960). SMAD4 alterations were not associated with poor clinico-pathological features such as poor tumor grade, advanced tumor stage, positive lymphovascular invasion (LVI), or positive perineural invasion (PNI), compared with SMAD4-wildtype. Given that SMAD4 mutations were not associated with GATA6 expression or Moffitt subtype in two independent molecularly characterized PDAC cohorts, distinct biomarker-defined clinical trials are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D. Greendyk
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Health, Newark, NJ 07103, USA; (J.D.G.); (W.E.A.)
| | - William E. Allen
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Health, Newark, NJ 07103, USA; (J.D.G.); (W.E.A.)
| | - H. Richard Alexander
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Health, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (H.R.A.); (T.B.); (M.F.E.); (M.S.G.); (T.J.K.); (R.C.L.); (J.C.M.); (S.D.)
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Toni Beninato
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Health, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (H.R.A.); (T.B.); (M.F.E.); (M.S.G.); (T.J.K.); (R.C.L.); (J.C.M.); (S.D.)
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Mariam F. Eskander
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Health, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (H.R.A.); (T.B.); (M.F.E.); (M.S.G.); (T.J.K.); (R.C.L.); (J.C.M.); (S.D.)
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Miral S. Grandhi
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Health, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (H.R.A.); (T.B.); (M.F.E.); (M.S.G.); (T.J.K.); (R.C.L.); (J.C.M.); (S.D.)
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Timothy J. Kennedy
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Health, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (H.R.A.); (T.B.); (M.F.E.); (M.S.G.); (T.J.K.); (R.C.L.); (J.C.M.); (S.D.)
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Russell C. Langan
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Health, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (H.R.A.); (T.B.); (M.F.E.); (M.S.G.); (T.J.K.); (R.C.L.); (J.C.M.); (S.D.)
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ 07039, USA
| | - Jason C. Maggi
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Health, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (H.R.A.); (T.B.); (M.F.E.); (M.S.G.); (T.J.K.); (R.C.L.); (J.C.M.); (S.D.)
- Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ 07039, USA
| | - Subhajyoti De
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Health, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (H.R.A.); (T.B.); (M.F.E.); (M.S.G.); (T.J.K.); (R.C.L.); (J.C.M.); (S.D.)
| | - Colin M. Court
- Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA;
| | - Brett L. Ecker
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Health, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (H.R.A.); (T.B.); (M.F.E.); (M.S.G.); (T.J.K.); (R.C.L.); (J.C.M.); (S.D.)
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ 07039, USA
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5
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Azevedo-Pouly A, Hale MA, Swift GH, Hoang CQ, Deering TG, Xue J, Wilkie TM, Murtaugh LC, MacDonald RJ. Key transcriptional effectors of the pancreatic acinar phenotype and oncogenic transformation. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291512. [PMID: 37796967 PMCID: PMC10553828 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Proper maintenance of mature cellular phenotypes is essential for stable physiology, suppression of disease states, and resistance to oncogenic transformation. We describe the transcriptional regulatory roles of four key DNA-binding transcription factors (Ptf1a, Nr5a2, Foxa2 and Gata4) that sit at the top of a regulatory hierarchy controlling all aspects of a highly differentiated cell-type-the mature pancreatic acinar cell (PAC). Selective inactivation of Ptf1a, Nr5a2, Foxa2 and Gata4 individually in mouse adult PACs rapidly altered the transcriptome and differentiation status of PACs. The changes most emphatically included transcription of the genes for the secretory digestive enzymes (which conscript more than 90% of acinar cell protein synthesis), a potent anabolic metabolism that provides the energy and materials for protein synthesis, suppressed and properly balanced cellular replication, and susceptibility to transformation by oncogenic KrasG12D. The simultaneous inactivation of Foxa2 and Gata4 caused a greater-than-additive disruption of gene expression and uncovered their collaboration to maintain Ptf1a expression and control PAC replication. A measure of PAC dedifferentiation ranked the effects of the conditional knockouts as Foxa2+Gata4 > Ptf1a > Nr5a2 > Foxa2 > Gata4. Whereas the loss of Ptf1a or Nr5a2 greatly accelerated Kras-mediated transformation of mature acinar cells in vivo, the absence of Foxa2, Gata4, or Foxa2+Gata4 together blocked transformation completely, despite extensive dedifferentiation. A lack of correlation between PAC dedifferentiation and sensitivity to oncogenic KrasG12D negates the simple proposition that the level of differentiation determines acinar cell resistance to transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Azevedo-Pouly
- Department of Molecular Biology and the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Michael A. Hale
- Department of Molecular Biology and the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Galvin H. Swift
- Department of Molecular Biology and the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Chinh Q. Hoang
- Department of Molecular Biology and the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Tye G. Deering
- Department of Molecular Biology and the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jumin Xue
- Department of Molecular Biology and the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Thomas M. Wilkie
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - L. Charles Murtaugh
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Raymond J. MacDonald
- Department of Molecular Biology and the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
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6
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Kayal Y, Barash U, Naroditsky I, Ilan N, Vlodavsky I. Heparanase 2 (Hpa2)- a new player essential for pancreatic acinar cell differentiation. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:465. [PMID: 37491420 PMCID: PMC10368643 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05990-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Heparanase 2 (Hpa2, HPSE2) is a close homolog of heparanase. Hpa2, however, lacks intrinsic heparan sulfate (HS)-degrading activity, the hallmark of heparanase enzymatic activity. Mutations of HPSE2 were identified in patients diagnosed with urofacial syndrome (UFS), a rare genetic disorder that exhibits abnormal facial expression and bladder voiding dysfunction, leading to renal damage and eventually renal failure. In order to reveal the role of HPSE2 in tissue homeostasis, we established a conditional Hpa2-KO mouse. Interestingly, the lack of Hpa2 was associated with a marked decrease in the expression of key pancreatic transcription factors such as PTF1, GATA6, and Mist1. This was associated with a two-fold decrease in pancreas weight, increased pancreatic inflammation, and profound morphological alterations of the pancreas. These include massive accumulation of fat cells, possibly a result of acinar-to-adipocyte transdifferentiation (AAT), as well as acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM), both considered to be pro-tumorigenic. Furthermore, exposing Hpa2-KO but not wild-type mice to a carcinogen (AOM) and pancreatic inflammation (cerulein) resulted in the formation of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), lesions that are considered to be precursors of invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (PDAC). These results strongly support the notion that Hpa2 functions as a tumor suppressor. Moreover, Hpa2 is shown here for the first time to play a critical role in the exocrine aspect of the pancreas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Kayal
- Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Uri Barash
- Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Inna Naroditsky
- Department of Pathology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Neta Ilan
- Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Israel Vlodavsky
- Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel.
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7
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Cobo I, Paliwal S, Bodas C, Felipe I, Melià-Alomà J, Torres A, Martínez-Villarreal J, Malumbres M, García F, Millán I, Del Pozo N, Park JC, MacDonald RJ, Muñoz J, Méndez R, Real FX. NFIC regulates ribosomal biology and ER stress in pancreatic acinar cells and restrains PDAC initiation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3761. [PMID: 37353485 PMCID: PMC10290102 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39291-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic acinar cells rely on PTF1 and other transcription factors to deploy their transcriptional program. We identify NFIC as a NR5A2 interactor and regulator of acinar differentiation. NFIC binding sites are enriched in NR5A2 ChIP-Sequencing peaks. Nfic knockout mice have a smaller, histologically normal, pancreas with reduced acinar gene expression. NFIC binds and regulates the promoters of acinar genes and those involved in RNA/protein metabolism, and Nfic knockout pancreata show defective ribosomal RNA maturation. NFIC dampens the endoplasmic reticulum stress program through binding to gene promoters and is required for resolution of Tunicamycin-mediated stress. NFIC is down-regulated during caerulein pancreatitis and is required for recovery after damage. Normal human pancreata with low levels of NFIC transcripts display reduced expression of genes down-regulated in Nfic knockout mice. NFIC expression is down-regulated in mouse and human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Consistently, Nfic knockout mice develop a higher number of mutant Kras-driven pre-neoplastic lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidoro Cobo
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sumit Paliwal
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Bodas
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Felipe
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Júlia Melià-Alomà
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
- Departament de Medicina i Ciències de la Vida, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ariadna Torres
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
- Departament de Medicina i Ciències de la Vida, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Marina Malumbres
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fernando García
- Proteomics Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre-CNIO, ProteoRed-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Millán
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalia Del Pozo
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joo-Cheol Park
- Department of Oral Histology-Developmental Biology, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ray J MacDonald
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Javier Muñoz
- Proteomics Unit, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre-CNIO, ProteoRed-Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raúl Méndez
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco X Real
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre-CNIO, Madrid, Spain.
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain.
- Departament de Medicina i Ciències de la Vida, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
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8
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Mawla AM, van der Meulen T, Huising MO. Chromatin accessibility differences between alpha, beta, and delta cells identifies common and cell type-specific enhancers. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:202. [PMID: 37069576 PMCID: PMC10108528 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09293-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High throughput sequencing has enabled the interrogation of the transcriptomic landscape of glucagon-secreting alpha cells, insulin-secreting beta cells, and somatostatin-secreting delta cells. These approaches have furthered our understanding of expression patterns that define healthy or diseased islet cell types and helped explicate some of the intricacies between major islet cell crosstalk and glucose regulation. All three endocrine cell types derive from a common pancreatic progenitor, yet alpha and beta cells have partially opposing functions, and delta cells modulate and control insulin and glucagon release. While gene expression signatures that define and maintain cellular identity have been widely explored, the underlying epigenetic components are incompletely characterized and understood. However, chromatin accessibility and remodeling is a dynamic attribute that plays a critical role to determine and maintain cellular identity. RESULTS Here, we compare and contrast the chromatin landscape between mouse alpha, beta, and delta cells using ATAC-Seq to evaluate the significant differences in chromatin accessibility. The similarities and differences in chromatin accessibility between these related islet endocrine cells help define their fate in support of their distinct functional roles. We identify patterns that suggest that both alpha and delta cells are poised, but repressed, from becoming beta-like. We also identify patterns in differentially enriched chromatin that have transcription factor motifs preferentially associated with different regions of the genome. Finally, we not only confirm and visualize previously discovered common endocrine- and cell specific- enhancer regions across differentially enriched chromatin, but identify novel regions as well. We compiled our chromatin accessibility data in a freely accessible database of common endocrine- and cell specific-enhancer regions that can be navigated with minimal bioinformatics expertise. CONCLUSIONS Both alpha and delta cells appear poised, but repressed, from becoming beta cells in murine pancreatic islets. These data broadly support earlier findings on the plasticity in identity of non-beta cells under certain circumstances. Furthermore, differential chromatin accessibility shows preferentially enriched distal-intergenic regions in beta cells, when compared to either alpha or delta cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex M Mawla
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Talitha van der Meulen
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Mark O Huising
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, School of Medicine, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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9
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YANG HONG, LI WAN, REN LIWEN, YANG YIHUI, ZHANG YIZHI, GE BINBIN, LI SHA, ZHENG XIANGJIN, LIU JINYI, ZHANG SEN, DU GUANHUA, TANG BO, WANG HONGQUAN, WANG JINHUA. Progress on diagnostic and prognostic markers of pancreatic cancer. Oncol Res 2023; 31:83-99. [PMID: 37304241 PMCID: PMC10208033 DOI: 10.32604/or.2023.028905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a malignant disease characterized by low survival and high recurrence rate, whose patients are mostly at the stage of locally advanced or metastatic disease when first diagnosed. Early diagnosis is particularly important because prognostic/predictive markers help guide optimal individualized treatment regimens. So far, CA19-9 is the only biomarker for pancreatic cancer approved by the FDA, but its effectiveness is limited by low sensitivity and specificity. With recent advances in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other analytical and sequencing technologies, the rapid acquisition and screening of biomarkers is now possible. Liquid biopsy also occupies a significant place due to its unique advantages. In this review, we systematically describe and evaluate the available biomarkers that have the greatest potential as vital tools in diagnosing and treating pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- HONG YANG
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Beijing, 100050, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - WAN LI
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Beijing, 100050, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - LIWEN REN
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Beijing, 100050, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - YIHUI YANG
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Beijing, 100050, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - YIZHI ZHANG
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Beijing, 100050, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - BINBIN GE
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Beijing, 100050, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - SHA LI
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Beijing, 100050, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - XIANGJIN ZHENG
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Beijing, 100050, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - JINYI LIU
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Beijing, 100050, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - SEN ZHANG
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Beijing, 100050, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - GUANHUA DU
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Beijing, 100050, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - BO TANG
- Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - HONGQUAN WANG
- Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - JINHUA WANG
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Beijing, 100050, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
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10
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Maurer HC, Curiel-Garcia A, Holmstrom S, Laise P, Palermo CF, Sastra SA, Andren A, Li Z, LeLarge T, Sagalovskiy I, Ross DR, Rosario V, Lu K, Ferraiuolo E, Spinosa N, Wong W, Shaw K, Chabot JA, Genkinger J, Hibshoosh H, Manji GA, Iuga A, Schmid RM, Badgley MA, Johnson K, Califano A, Lyssiotis C, Olive KP. Ras-dependent activation of BMAL2 regulates hypoxic metabolism in pancreatic cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.19.533333. [PMID: 36993718 PMCID: PMC10055246 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.19.533333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
To identify novel drivers of malignancy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), we employed regulatory network analysis, which calculates the activity of transcription factors and other regulatory proteins based on the integrated expression of their positive and negative target genes. We generated a regulatory network for the malignant epithelial cells of human PDAC using gene expression data from a set of 197 laser capture microdissected human PDAC samples and 45 low-grade precursors, for which we had matched histopathological, clinical, and epidemiological annotation. We then identified the most highly activated and repressed regulatory proteins (e.g. master regulators or MRs) associated with four malignancy phenotypes: precursors vs. PDAC (initiation), low-grade vs. high grade histopathology (progression), survival post resection, and association with KRAS activity. Integrating across these phenotypes, the top MR of PDAC malignancy was found to be BMAL2, a member of the PAS family of bHLH transcription factors. Although the canonical function of BMAL2 is linked to the circadian rhythm protein CLOCK, annotation of BMAL2 target genes highlighted a potential role in hypoxia response. We previously demonstrated that PDAC is hypovascularized and hypoperfused, and here show that PDAC from the genetically engineered KPC model exists in a state of extreme hypoxia, with a partial oxygen pressure of <1mmHg. Given the close homology of BMAL2 to HIF1β (ARNT) and its potential to heterodimerize with HIF1A and HIF2A, we investigated whether BMAL2 plays a role in the hypoxic response of PDAC. Indeed, BMAL2 controlled numerous hypoxia response genes and could be inhibited following treatment with multiple RAF, MEK, and ERK inhibitors, validating its association with RAS activity. Knockout of BMAL2 in four human PDAC cell lines led to defects in growth and invasion in the setting of hypoxia. Strikingly, BMAL2 null cells failed to induce glycolysis upon exposure to severe hypoxia and this was associated with a loss of expression of the glycolytic enzyme LDHA. Moreover, HIF1A was no longer stabilized under hypoxia in BMAL2 knockout cells. By contrast, HIF2A was hyper-stabilized under hypoxia, indicating a dysregulation of hypoxia metabolism in response to BMAL2 loss. We conclude that BMAL2 is a master regulator of hypoxic metabolism in PDAC, serving as a molecular switch between the disparate metabolic roles of HIF1A- and HIF2A-dependent hypoxia responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Carlo Maurer
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Alvaro Curiel-Garcia
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
- Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | | | - Pasquale Laise
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
- Darwin Therapeutics, New York, NY
| | - Carmine F Palermo
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
- Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Steven A Sastra
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
- Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Anthony Andren
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Zhang Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Tessa LeLarge
- Department of Surgery, Dijklander Ziekenhuis Location Hoorn, Hoorn, the Netherlands
| | - Irina Sagalovskiy
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
- Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Daniel R Ross
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
- Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Vilma Rosario
- Department of Surgery, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Kate Lu
- University of New Hampshire, Manchester, NH
| | | | | | - Winston Wong
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Kaitlin Shaw
- Columbia University Division of GI & Endocrine Surgery, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - John A Chabot
- Department of Surgery, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Jeanine Genkinger
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY
| | - Hanina Hibshoosh
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and HICCC, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Gulam A Manji
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
- Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Alina Iuga
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Roland M Schmid
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Michael A Badgley
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
- Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | | | - Andrea Califano
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
- Department of Systems Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
- Darwin Therapeutics, New York, NY
| | - Costas Lyssiotis
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Kenneth P Olive
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
- Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
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11
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The Relationship between the Expression of GATA4 and GATA6 with the Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Resectable Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020252. [PMID: 36830789 PMCID: PMC9953151 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
GATA4 and GATA6 are transcription factors involved in the differentiation and development of PDAC. GATA6 expression is related to the classic molecular subtype, while its absence is related to the basal-like molecular subtype. The aim was to determine the clinical utility of IHC determination of GATA4 and GATA6 in a series of patients with resected PDAC. GATA4 and GATA6 expression was studied by IHC in TMA samples of normal tissue, PanIN, tumor tissue and lymph node metastases from a series of 89 patients with resected PDAC. Its relationship with clinicopathologic variables and the outcome was investigated. Seventy-two (81%) tumors were GATA6+ and 37 (42%) were GATA4+. While GATA4 expression was reduced during tumor progression, GATA6 expression remained highly conserved, except in lymph node metastases. All patients with early stages and well-differentiated tumors were GATA6+. The absence of GATA4 expression was related to smoking. Patients with GATA4+ or GATA6+ tumors had significantly lower Ca 19.9 levels. The expression of GATA4 and GATA6 was related to DFS, being more favorable in the GATA4+/GATA6+ group. The determination of the expression of GATA4 and GATA6 by IHC is feasible and provides complementary clinical and prognostic information that can help improve the stratification of patients with PDAC.
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12
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Zhang Z, Zhang H, Liao X, Tsai HI. KRAS mutation: The booster of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma transformation and progression. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1147676. [PMID: 37152291 PMCID: PMC10157181 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1147676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic cancer. It has a poor response to conventional therapy and has an extremely poor 5-year survival rate. PDAC is driven by multiple oncogene mutations, with the highest mutation frequency being observed in KRAS. The KRAS protein, which binds to GTP, has phosphokinase activity, which further activates downstream effectors. KRAS mutation contributes to cancer cell proliferation, metabolic reprogramming, immune escape, and therapy resistance in PDAC, acting as a critical driver of the disease. Thus, KRAS mutation is positively associated with poorer prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients. This review focus on the KRAS mutation patterns in PDAC, and further emphases its role in signal transduction, metabolic reprogramming, therapy resistance and prognosis, hoping to provide KRAS target therapy strategies for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zining Zhang
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xiang Liao
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- *Correspondence: Xiang Liao, ; Hsiang-i Tsai,
| | - Hsiang-i Tsai
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- *Correspondence: Xiang Liao, ; Hsiang-i Tsai,
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13
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da Silva L, Jiang J, Perkins C, Atanasova KR, Bray JK, Bulut G, Azevedo-Pouly A, Campbell-Thompson M, Yang X, Hakimjavadi H, Chamala S, Ratnayake R, Gharaibeh RZ, Li C, Luesch H, Schmittgen TD. Pharmacological inhibition and reversal of pancreatic acinar ductal metaplasia. Cell Death Discov 2022; 8:378. [PMID: 36055991 PMCID: PMC9440259 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-022-01165-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic acinar cells display a remarkable degree of plasticity and can dedifferentiate into ductal-like progenitor cells by a process known as acinar ductal metaplasia (ADM). ADM is believed to be one of the earliest precursor lesions toward the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and maintaining the pancreatic acinar cell phenotype suppresses tumor formation. The effects of a novel pStat3 inhibitor (LLL12B) and the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) were investigated using 3-D cultures from p48Cre/+ and p48Cre/+LSL-KrasG12D/+ (KC) mice. LLL12B and TSA inhibited ADM in both KC and p48Cre/+ mouse pancreatic organoids. Furthermore, treatment with LLL12B or TSA on dedifferentiated acini from p48Cre/+ and KC mice that had undergone ADM produced morphologic and gene expression changes that suggest a reversal of ADM. Validation experiments using qRT-PCR (p48Cre/+ and KC) and RNA sequencing (KC) of the LLL12B and TSA treated cultures showed that the ADM reversal was more robust for the TSA treatments. Pathway analysis showed that TSA inhibited Spink1 and PI3K/AKT signaling during ADM reversal. The ability of TSA to reverse ADM was also observed in primary human acinar cultures. We report that pStat3 and HDAC inhibition can attenuate ADM in vitro and reverse ADM in the context of wild-type Kras. Our findings suggest that pharmacological inhibition or reversal of pancreatic ADM represents a potential therapeutic strategy for blocking aberrant ductal reprogramming of acinar cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lais da Silva
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jinmai Jiang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Corey Perkins
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kalina Rosenova Atanasova
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Julie K Bray
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Gamze Bulut
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ana Azevedo-Pouly
- Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Martha Campbell-Thompson
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Xiaozhi Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Hesamedin Hakimjavadi
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Srikar Chamala
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ranjala Ratnayake
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Raad Z Gharaibeh
- Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Chenglong Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Hendrik Luesch
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Thomas D Schmittgen
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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14
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Zhong Z, Harmston N, Wood KC, Madan B, Virshup DM. A p300/GATA6 axis determines differentiation and Wnt dependency in pancreatic cancer models. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:e156305. [PMID: 35536676 PMCID: PMC9197518 DOI: 10.1172/jci156305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling regulates the balance between stemness and differentiation in multiple tissues and in cancer. RNF43-mutant pancreatic cancers are dependent on Wnt production, and pharmacologic blockade of the pathway, e.g., by PORCN inhibitors, leads to tumor differentiation. However, primary resistance to these inhibitors has been observed. To elucidate potential mechanisms, we performed in vivo CRISPR screens in PORCN inhibitor-sensitive RNF43-mutant pancreatic cancer xenografts. As expected, genes in the Wnt pathway whose loss conferred drug resistance were identified, including APC, AXIN1, and CTNNBIP1. Unexpectedly, the screen also identified the histone acetyltransferase EP300 (p300), but not its paralog, CREBBP (CBP). We found that EP300 is silenced due to genetic alterations in all the existing RNF43-mutant pancreatic cancer cell lines that are resistant to PORCN inhibitors. Mechanistically, loss of EP300 directly downregulated GATA6 expression, thereby silencing the GATA6-regulated differentiation program and leading to a phenotypic transition from the classical subtype to the dedifferentiated basal-like/squamous subtype of pancreatic cancer. EP300 mutation and loss of GATA6 function bypassed the antidifferentiation activity of Wnt signaling, rendering these cancer cells resistant to Wnt inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhong
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke–NUS Medical School, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nathan Harmston
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke–NUS Medical School, Singapore
- Science Division, Yale–NUS College, Singapore
| | - Kris C. Wood
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology and
| | - Babita Madan
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke–NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - David M. Virshup
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke–NUS Medical School, Singapore
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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15
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Kloesch B, Ionasz V, Paliwal S, Hruschka N, Martinez de Villarreal J, Öllinger R, Mueller S, Dienes HP, Schindl M, Gruber ES, Stift J, Herndler-Brandstetter D, Lomberk GA, Seidler B, Saur D, Rad R, Urrutia RA, Real FX, Martinelli P. A GATA6-centred gene regulatory network involving HNFs and ΔNp63 controls plasticity and immune escape in pancreatic cancer. Gut 2022; 71:766-777. [PMID: 33846140 PMCID: PMC9733634 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-321397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Molecular taxonomy of tumours is the foundation of personalised medicine and is becoming of paramount importance for therapeutic purposes. Four transcriptomics-based classification systems of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exist, which consistently identified a subtype of highly aggressive PDACs with basal-like features, including ΔNp63 expression and loss of the epithelial master regulator GATA6. We investigated the precise molecular events driving PDAC progression and the emergence of the basal programme. DESIGN We combined the analysis of patient-derived transcriptomics datasets and tissue samples with mechanistic experiments using a novel dual-recombinase mouse model for Gata6 deletion at late stages of KRasG12D-driven pancreatic tumorigenesis (Gata6LateKO). RESULTS This comprehensive human-to-mouse approach showed that GATA6 loss is necessary, but not sufficient, for the expression of ΔNp63 and the basal programme in patients and in mice. The concomitant loss of HNF1A and HNF4A, likely through epigenetic silencing, is required for the full phenotype switch. Moreover, Gata6 deletion in mice dramatically increased the metastatic rate, with a propensity for lung metastases. Through RNA-Seq analysis of primary cells isolated from mouse tumours, we show that Gata6 inhibits tumour cell plasticity and immune evasion, consistent with patient-derived data, suggesting that GATA6 works as a barrier for acquiring the fully developed basal and metastatic phenotype. CONCLUSIONS Our work provides both a mechanistic molecular link between the basal phenotype and metastasis and a valuable preclinical tool to investigate the most aggressive subtype of PDAC. These data, therefore, are important for understanding the pathobiological features underlying the heterogeneity of pancreatic cancer in both mice and human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Kloesch
- Institute of Cancer Research, Departmet of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Vivien Ionasz
- Institute of Cancer Research, Departmet of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Sumit Paliwal
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Natascha Hruschka
- Institute of Cancer Research, Departmet of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | | | - Rupert Öllinger
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Mueller
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Peter Dienes
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Schindl
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University Vienna, Wien, Austria
- Division of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Elisabeth S Gruber
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University Vienna, Wien, Austria
- Division of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Judith Stift
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dietmar Herndler-Brandstetter
- Institute of Cancer Research, Departmet of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University Vienna, Wien, Austria
| | - Gwen A Lomberk
- Genomics Sciences and Precision Medicine Center and Division of Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Barbara Seidler
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Gemany
| | - Dieter Saur
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Gemany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Consortium (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roland Rad
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Gemany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Consortium (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Raul A Urrutia
- Genomics Sciences and Precision Medicine Center and Division of Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Francisco X Real
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
- Departament de Ciènces Experimental i de la Salut, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paola Martinelli
- Institute of Cancer Research, Departmet of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University Vienna, Wien, Austria
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16
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Li X, He J, Xie K. Molecular signaling in pancreatic ductal metaplasia: emerging biomarkers for detection and intervention of early pancreatic cancer. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2022; 45:201-225. [PMID: 35290607 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00664-x] [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] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal metaplasia (PDM) is the transformation of potentially various types of cells in the pancreas into ductal or ductal-like cells, which eventually replace the existing differentiated somatic cell type(s). PDM is usually triggered by and manifests its ability to adapt to environmental stimuli and genetic insults. The development of PDM to atypical hyperplasia or dysplasia is an important risk factor for pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Recent studies using genetically engineered mouse models, cell lineage tracing, single-cell sequencing and others have unraveled novel cellular and molecular insights in PDM formation and evolution. Those novel findings help better understand the cellular origins and functional significance of PDM and its regulation at cellular and molecular levels. Given that PDM represents the earliest pathological changes in PDA initiation and development, translational studies are beginning to define PDM-associated cell and molecular biomarkers that can be used to screen and detect early PDA and to enable its effective intervention, thereby truly and significantly reducing the dreadful mortality rate of PDA. This review will describe recent advances in the understanding of PDM biology with a focus on its underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, and in biomarker discovery with clinical implications for the management of pancreatic regeneration and tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojia Li
- Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Department of Pathology, The South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie He
- Institute of Digestive Diseases Research, The South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Keping Xie
- Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- Department of Pathology, The South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
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17
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Li S, Xie K. Ductal metaplasia in pancreas. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188698. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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18
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Genetic Mutations of Pancreatic Cancer and Genetically Engineered Mouse Models. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010071. [PMID: 35008235 PMCID: PMC8750056 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy. Recent multi-gene analysis approaches such as next-generation sequencing have provided useful information on the molecular characterization of pancreatic tumors. Different types of pancreatic cancer and precursor lesions are characterized by specific molecular alterations. Genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) of PDAC are useful tools to understand the roles of altered genes. Most GEMMs are driven by oncogenic Kras, and can recapitulate the histological and molecular hallmarks of human PDAC and comparable precursor lesions. In this review, we summarize the main molecular alterations found in pancreatic neoplasms and GEMMs developed based on these alterations. Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy, and the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. An improved understanding of tumor biology and novel therapeutic discoveries are needed to improve overall survival. Recent multi-gene analysis approaches such as next-generation sequencing have provided useful information on the molecular characterization of pancreatic tumors. Different types of pancreatic cancer and precursor lesions are characterized by specific molecular alterations. Genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) of PDAC are useful to understand the roles of altered genes. Most GEMMs are driven by oncogenic Kras, and can recapitulate the histological and molecular hallmarks of human PDAC and comparable precursor lesions. Advanced GEMMs permit the temporally and spatially controlled manipulation of multiple target genes using a dual-recombinase system or CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. GEMMs that express fluorescent proteins allow cell lineage tracing to follow tumor growth and metastasis to understand the contribution of different cell types in cancer progression. GEMMs are widely used for therapeutic optimization. In this review, we summarize the main molecular alterations found in pancreatic neoplasms, developed GEMMs, and the contribution of GEMMs to the current understanding of PDAC pathobiology. Furthermore, we attempted to modify the categorization of altered driver genes according to the most updated findings.
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van Roey R, Brabletz T, Stemmler MP, Armstark I. Deregulation of Transcription Factor Networks Driving Cell Plasticity and Metastasis in Pancreatic Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:753456. [PMID: 34888306 PMCID: PMC8650502 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.753456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a very aggressive disease with 5-year survival rates of less than 10%. The constantly increasing incidence and stagnant patient outcomes despite changes in treatment regimens emphasize the requirement of a better understanding of the disease mechanisms. Challenges in treating pancreatic cancer include diagnosis at already progressed disease states due to the lack of early detection methods, rapid acquisition of therapy resistance, and high metastatic competence. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most prevalent type of pancreatic cancer, frequently shows dominant-active mutations in KRAS and TP53 as well as inactivation of genes involved in differentiation and cell-cycle regulation (e.g. SMAD4 and CDKN2A). Besides somatic mutations, deregulated transcription factor activities strongly contribute to disease progression. Specifically, transcriptional regulatory networks essential for proper lineage specification and differentiation during pancreas development are reactivated or become deregulated in the context of cancer and exacerbate progression towards an aggressive phenotype. This review summarizes the recent literature on transcription factor networks and epigenetic gene regulation that play a crucial role during tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruthger van Roey
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Brabletz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marc P Stemmler
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Isabell Armstark
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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20
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Xu J, Cheng K, Lin H, Han W, He T, Nie X, Sun Y, Qiuman S, Reheman Y, Chen Q. Characterization of the GATA Transcription Factor Family and Exploration of Their Relevance to Immune Infiltration and Tumor Microenvironment in Pancreatic Cancer. Int J Gen Med 2021; 14:9083-9101. [PMID: 34876843 PMCID: PMC8643180 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s342741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pancreatic cancer (PC) presents a phenomenal disease burden worldwide. The GATA transcription factor family is associated with a variety of human malignancies. However, the relation between GATA family members (GATAs) and PC has not been elucidated. Methods This study integrates large-scale bioinformatics database resources to analyze the expression patterns of GATAs in PC patients and explore their underlying function mechanism and relevance to immune infiltration and other different cell types in the tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer. First, the expression pattern of GATAs in pancreatic cancer was detected by the Oncomine database and the Gene Expression Profile Interaction Analysis (GEPIA2) database and verified through other datasets in the R2 platform. Then, we used the cBioPortal database and the Human Protein Atlas to assess the correlation between GATAs and clinicopathological features of PC. Then, survival analyses were performed to identify candidate prognostic factors in the GATA family in PC patients. Further, we performed gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, immune-infiltration correlation analysis, and cell type analysis of the tumor microenvironment at the single-cell level to explain the function of GATAs in pancreatic cancer. Results We found that GATA3 and GATA6 were highly expressed in pancreatic cancer, and the expression levels of GATA4 and GATA6 correlated with the pathological stage, differentiation grade, and molecular subtype of pancreatic cancer. The survival analysis revealed that lower GATA4 of PC patients was associated with better outcomes, and higher GATA6 might be associated with longer OS. In addition, GATA3 was associated with immune cell infiltration of PC, and GATA6 was mainly distributed in the epithelial cells with ductal phenotype. Conclusion This work tentatively identified GATA3, GATA4, and GATA6 in the GATA family associated with pancreatic cancer. GATA4 may serve as a prognostic factor for PC patients, and GATA6 may act as a subtype marker for PC. In addition, GATA3 may reflect the immune-infiltration status of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Centre of Digestive and Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, People's Republic of China
| | - Kun Cheng
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Centre of Digestive and Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai Lin
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Centre of Digestive and Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Han
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Centre of Digestive and Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, People's Republic of China
| | - Tieying He
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Centre of Digestive and Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohan Nie
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Centre of Digestive and Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonghui Sun
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Centre of Digestive and Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, People's Republic of China
| | - Sulidankazha Qiuman
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Centre of Digestive and Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, People's Republic of China
| | - Yilidan Reheman
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Centre of Digestive and Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, People's Republic of China
| | - Qilong Chen
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Centre of Digestive and Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, 830054, People's Republic of China
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21
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Backx E, Coolens K, Van den Bossche JL, Houbracken I, Espinet E, Rooman I. On the Origin of Pancreatic Cancer: Molecular Tumor Subtypes in Perspective of Exocrine Cell Plasticity. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 13:1243-1253. [PMID: 34875393 PMCID: PMC8881661 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating type of cancer. While many studies have shed light into the pathobiology of PDAC, the nature of PDAC's cell of origin remains under debate. Studies in adult pancreatic tissue have unveiled a remarkable exocrine cell plasticity including transitional states, mostly exemplified by acinar to ductal cell metaplasia, but also with recent evidence hinting at duct to basal cell transitions. Single-cell RNA sequencing has further revealed intrapopulation heterogeneity among acinar and duct cells. Transcriptomic and epigenomic relationships between these exocrine cell differentiation states and PDAC molecular subtypes have started to emerge, suggesting different ontogenies for different tumor subtypes. This review sheds light on these diverse aspects with particular focus on studies with human cells. Understanding the "masked ball" of exocrine cells at origin of PDAC and leaving behind the binary acinar vs duct cell classification may significantly advance our insights in PDAC biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyne Backx
- Laboratory of Medical and Molecular Oncology, Oncology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Katarina Coolens
- Laboratory of Medical and Molecular Oncology, Oncology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jan-Lars Van den Bossche
- Laboratory of Medical and Molecular Oncology, Oncology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Houbracken
- Laboratory of Medical and Molecular Oncology, Oncology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Elisa Espinet
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ilse Rooman
- Laboratory of Medical and Molecular Oncology, Oncology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
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22
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Gutiérrez ML, Muñoz-Bellvís L, Orfao A. Genomic Heterogeneity of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Its Clinical Impact. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4451. [PMID: 34503261 PMCID: PMC8430663 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13174451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death due to limited advances in recent years in early diagnosis and personalized therapy capable of overcoming tumor resistance to chemotherapy. In the last decades, significant advances have been achieved in the identification of recurrent genetic and molecular alterations of PDAC including those involving the KRAS, CDKN2A, SMAD4, and TP53 driver genes. Despite these common genetic traits, PDAC are highly heterogeneous tumors at both the inter- and intra-tumoral genomic level, which might contribute to distinct tumor behavior and response to therapy, with variable patient outcomes. Despite this, genetic and genomic data on PDAC has had a limited impact on the clinical management of patients. Integration of genomic data for classification of PDAC into clinically defined entities-i.e., classical vs. squamous subtypes of PDAC-leading to different treatment approaches has the potential for significantly improving patient outcomes. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about the most relevant genomic subtypes of PDAC including the impact of distinct patterns of intra-tumoral genomic heterogeneity on the classification and clinical and therapeutic management of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Laura Gutiérrez
- Department of Medicine and Cytometry Service (NUCLEUS), Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Cancer Research Center (IBMCC-CSIC/USAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre Consortium-CIBER-CIBERONC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Muñoz-Bellvís
- Cancer Research Center (IBMCC-CSIC/USAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre Consortium-CIBER-CIBERONC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Service of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, University Hospital of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Alberto Orfao
- Department of Medicine and Cytometry Service (NUCLEUS), Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Cancer Research Center (IBMCC-CSIC/USAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre Consortium-CIBER-CIBERONC, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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23
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MECOM permits pancreatic acinar cell dedifferentiation avoiding cell death under stress conditions. Cell Death Differ 2021; 28:2601-2615. [PMID: 33762742 PMCID: PMC8408219 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00771-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of the pancreatic acinar cell phenotype suppresses tumor formation. Hence, repetitive acute or chronic pancreatitis, stress conditions in which the acinar cells dedifferentiate, predispose for cancer formation in the pancreas. Dedifferentiated acinar cells acquire a large panel of duct cell-specific markers. However, it remains unclear to what extent dedifferentiated acini differ from native duct cells and which genes are uniquely regulating acinar cell dedifferentiation. Moreover, most studies have been performed on mice since the availability of human cells is scarce. Here, we applied a non-genetic lineage tracing method of human pancreatic exocrine acinar and duct cells that allowed cell-type-specific gene expression profiling by RNA sequencing. Subsequent to this discovery analysis, one transcription factor that was unique for dedifferentiated acinar cells was functionally characterized. RNA sequencing analysis showed that human dedifferentiated acinar cells expressed genes in "Pathways of cancer" with a prominence of MECOM (EVI-1), a transcription factor that was not expressed by duct cells. During mouse embryonic development, pre-acinar cells also transiently expressed MECOM and in the adult mouse pancreas, MECOM was re-expressed when mice were subjected to acute and chronic pancreatitis, conditions in which acinar cells dedifferentiate. In human cells and in mice, MECOM expression correlated with and was directly regulated by SOX9. Mouse acinar cells that, by genetic manipulation, lose the ability to upregulate MECOM showed impaired cell adhesion, more prominent acinar cell death, and suppressed acinar cell dedifferentiation by limited ERK signaling. In conclusion, we transcriptionally profiled the two major human pancreatic exocrine cell types, acinar and duct cells, during experimental stress conditions. We provide insights that in dedifferentiated acinar cells, cancer pathways are upregulated in which MECOM is a critical regulator that suppresses acinar cell death by permitting cellular dedifferentiation.
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24
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Milan M, Diaferia GR, Natoli G. Tumor cell heterogeneity and its transcriptional bases in pancreatic cancer: a tale of two cell types and their many variants. EMBO J 2021; 40:e107206. [PMID: 33844319 PMCID: PMC8246061 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020107206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the most highly lethal tumors, is characterized by complex histology, with a massive fibrotic stroma in which both pseudo-glandular structures and compact nests of abnormally differentiated tumor cells are embedded, in different proportions and with different mutual relationships in space. This complexity and the heterogeneity of the tumor component have hindered the development of a broadly accepted, clinically actionable classification of PDACs, either on a morphological or a molecular basis. Here, we discuss evidence suggesting that such heterogeneity can to a large extent, albeit not exclusively, be traced back to two main classes of PDAC cells that commonly coexist in the same tumor: cells that maintained their ability to differentiate toward endodermal, mucin-producing epithelia and epithelial cells unable to form glandular structures and instead characterized by various levels of squamous differentiation and the expression of mesenchymal lineage genes. The underlying gene regulatory networks and how they are controlled by distinct transcription factors, as well as the practical implications of these two different populations of tumor cells, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Milan
- Department of Experimental OncologyEuropean Institute of Oncology (IEO) IRCCSMilanItaly
- Present address:
The Francis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| | - Giuseppe R Diaferia
- Department of Experimental OncologyEuropean Institute of Oncology (IEO) IRCCSMilanItaly
| | - Gioacchino Natoli
- Department of Experimental OncologyEuropean Institute of Oncology (IEO) IRCCSMilanItaly
- Humanitas UniversityMilanItaly
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25
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Urrutia G, de Assuncao TM, Mathison AJ, Salmonson A, Kerketta R, Zeighami A, Stodola TJ, Adsay V, Pehlivanoglu B, Dwinell MB, Zimmermann MT, Iovanna JL, Urrutia R, Lomberk G. Inactivation of the Euchromatic Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase 2 Pathway in Pancreatic Epithelial Cells Antagonizes Cancer Initiation and Pancreatitis-Associated Promotion by Altering Growth and Immune Gene Expression Networks. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:681153. [PMID: 34249932 PMCID: PMC8261250 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.681153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive, painful disease with a 5-year survival rate of only 9%. Recent evidence indicates that distinct epigenomic landscapes underlie PDAC progression, identifying the H3K9me pathway as important to its pathobiology. Here, we delineate the role of Euchromatic Histone-lysine N-Methyltransferase 2 (EHMT2), the enzyme that generates H3K9me, as a downstream effector of oncogenic KRAS during PDAC initiation and pancreatitis-associated promotion. EHMT2 inactivation in pancreatic cells reduces H3K9me2 and antagonizes Kras G12D -mediated acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) and Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PanIN) formation in both the Pdx1-Cre and P48 Cre/+ Kras G12D mouse models. Ex vivo acinar explants also show impaired EGFR-KRAS-MAPK pathway-mediated ADM upon EHMT2 deletion. Notably, Kras G12D increases EHMT2 protein levels and EHMT2-EHMT1-WIZ complex formation. Transcriptome analysis reveals that EHMT2 inactivation upregulates a cell cycle inhibitory gene expression network that converges on the Cdkn1a/p21-Chek2 pathway. Congruently, pancreas tissue from Kras G12D animals with EHMT2 inactivation have increased P21 protein levels and enhanced senescence. Furthermore, loss of EHMT2 reduces inflammatory cell infiltration typically induced during Kras G12D -mediated initiation. The inhibitory effect on Kras G12D -induced growth is maintained in the pancreatitis-accelerated model, while simultaneously modifying immunoregulatory gene networks that also contribute to carcinogenesis. This study outlines the existence of a novel KRAS-EHMT2 pathway that is critical for mediating the growth-promoting and immunoregulatory effects of this oncogene in vivo, extending human observations to support a pathophysiological role for the H3K9me pathway in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Urrutia
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Thiago Milech de Assuncao
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Angela J. Mathison
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Ann Salmonson
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Romica Kerketta
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Atefeh Zeighami
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Timothy J. Stodola
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Volkan Adsay
- Department of Pathology, Koç University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Burcin Pehlivanoglu
- Department of Pathology, Adiyaman University Training and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey
| | - Michael B. Dwinell
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Center for Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Michael T. Zimmermann
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Juan L. Iovanna
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Raul Urrutia
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Gwen Lomberk
- Division of Research, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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Xu CL, Guan WQ, Wang XY. The expression of the GATA6 gene in oral carcinoma cell lines. World J Surg Oncol 2021; 19:153. [PMID: 34006300 PMCID: PMC8132435 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-021-02245-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to investigate the expression level of the GATA6 gene in different oral cancer cells. Methods In this study, we sub-cultured normal oral epithelial cell lines HOK, human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell lines CAL-27 and SCC-4, and human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma cell lines SACC-LM and SACC-83. Subsequently, we used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction RT-PCR and Western blot methods to detect the mRNA and the protein expressions of GATA6 in normal oral epithelial cells, human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells, and human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma cells. Results The results of this study showed that the mRNA expression levels of GATA6 in CAL-27, SCC-4, and SACC-LM cells were significantly increased when compared with the HOK cells. However, the mRNA expression level of GATA6 in the SACC-83 cells had no significant difference compared with the HOK cells. The protein expression levels of GATA6 in the SCC-4 and SACC-LM cells were, however, significantly increased whereas the protein expression levels of GATA6 in the CAL-27 and SACC-83 cells had no significant difference when compared with the HOK cells. Conclusion The GATA6 gene may be related to the occurrence and progression of certain oral cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Lin Xu
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Putian University, Putian, 351100, China
| | - Wei-Qun Guan
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, No. 29 of Xinquan Street, Gulou District, Fuzhou, 350001, China.
| | - Xue-Ying Wang
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, No. 29 of Xinquan Street, Gulou District, Fuzhou, 350001, China
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27
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Molinari C, Tedaldi G, Rebuzzi F, Morgagni P, Capelli L, Ravaioli S, Tumedei MM, Scarpi E, Tomezzoli A, Bernasconi R, Ambrosio MR, D'Ignazio A, Solaini L, Limarzi F, Ercolani G, Martinelli G, Ulivi P, Saragoni L. Early Gastric Cancer: identification of molecular markers able to distinguish submucosa-penetrating lesions with different prognosis. Gastric Cancer 2021; 24:392-401. [PMID: 33156452 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-020-01135-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early Gastric Cancer (EGC) reaches 25% of the gastric cancers surgically treated in some areas of Northeastern Italy and is usually characterized by a good prognosis. However, among EGCs classified according to Kodama's criteria, Pen A subgroup is characterized by extensive submucosal invasion, lymph node metastases and worse prognosis, whereas Pen B subgroup by better prognosis. The aim of the study was to characterize the differences between Pen A, Pen B and locally advanced gastric cancer (T3N0) in order to identify biomarkers involved in aggressiveness and clinical outcome. METHODS We selected 33 Pen A, 34 Pen B and 20 T3N0 tumors and performed immunohistochemistry of mucins, copy number variation analysis of a gene panel, microsatellite instability (MSI), TP53 mutation and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analyses. RESULTS Pen A subgroup was characterized by MUC6 overexpression (p = 0.021). Otherwise, the Pen B subgroup was significantly associated with the amplification of GATA6 gene (p = 0.002). The higher percentage of MSI tumors was observed in T3N0 group (p = 0.002), but no significant differences between EGC types were found. Finally, TP53 gene analysis showed that 32.8% of Pen tumors have a mutation in exons 5-8 and 50.0% presented LOH. Co-occurrence of TP53 mutation and LOH mainly characterized Pen A tumors (p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS Our analyses revealed that clinico-pathological parameters, microsatellite status and frequency of TP53 mutations do not seem to distinguish Pen subgroups. Conversely, the amplification of GATA6 was associated with Pen B, as well as the overexpression of MUC6 and the TP53mut/LOH significantly characterized Pen A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Molinari
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Gianluca Tedaldi
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy.
| | - Francesca Rebuzzi
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Paolo Morgagni
- Department of Surgery, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy
| | - Laura Capelli
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Sara Ravaioli
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Maria Maddalena Tumedei
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Emanuela Scarpi
- Biostatistics and Clinical Trials Unit, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Anna Tomezzoli
- Department of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Maria Raffaella Ambrosio
- Pathology Unit, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Pathology Unit, Azienda USL Toscana Nord-Ovest, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Leonardo Solaini
- Department of Surgery, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Limarzi
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Giorgio Ercolani
- Department of Surgery, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Paola Ulivi
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Luca Saragoni
- Pathology Unit, Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, Forlì, Italy
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28
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Rodríguez Gil Y, Jiménez Sánchez P, Muñoz Velasco R, García García A, Sánchez-Arévalo Lobo VJ. Molecular Alterations in Pancreatic Cancer: Transfer to the Clinic. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2077. [PMID: 33669845 PMCID: PMC7923218 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042077] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the most common cancer of the exocrine pancreas and probably the tumor that has benefited the least from clinical progress in the last three decades. A consensus has been reached regarding the histologic classification of the ductal preneoplastic lesions (pancreatic intra-epithelial neoplasia-PanIN) and the molecular alterations associated with them. Mutations in KRAS and inactivation of CDKN2A, SMAD4 and TP53 are among the most prevalent alterations. Next generation sequencing studies are providing a broad picture of the enormous heterogeneity in this tumor type, describing new mutations less prevalent. These studies have also allowed the characterization of different subtypes with prognostic value. However, all this knowledge has not been translated into a clinical progress. Effective preventive and early diagnostic strategies are essential to improve the survival rates. The main challenge is, indeed, to identify new effective drugs. Despite many years of research and its limited success, gemcitabine is still the first line treatment of PDA. New drug combinations and new concepts to improve drug delivery into the tumor, as well as the development of preclinical predictive assays, are being explored and provide optimism and prospects for better therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda Rodríguez Gil
- Pathology Department, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, (Spain), Av. Córdoba, s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Paula Jiménez Sánchez
- Molecular Oncology Group, Biosanitary Research Institute, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV), Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (P.J.S.); (R.M.V.); (A.G.G.)
| | - Raúl Muñoz Velasco
- Molecular Oncology Group, Biosanitary Research Institute, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV), Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (P.J.S.); (R.M.V.); (A.G.G.)
| | - Ana García García
- Molecular Oncology Group, Biosanitary Research Institute, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV), Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (P.J.S.); (R.M.V.); (A.G.G.)
| | - Víctor Javier Sánchez-Arévalo Lobo
- Pathology Department, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, (Spain), Av. Córdoba, s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain;
- Molecular Oncology Group, Biosanitary Research Institute, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV), Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain; (P.J.S.); (R.M.V.); (A.G.G.)
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29
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Cobo I, Iglesias M, Flández M, Verbeke C, Del Pozo N, Llorente M, Lawlor R, Luchini C, Rusev B, Scarpa A, Real FX. Epithelial Nr5a2 heterozygosity cooperates with mutant Kras in the development of pancreatic cystic lesions. J Pathol 2021; 253:174-185. [PMID: 33079429 DOI: 10.1002/path.5570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are an increasingly important public health problem. The majority of these lesions are benign but some progress to invasive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). There is a dearth of mouse models of these conditions. The orphan nuclear receptor NR5A2 regulates development, differentiation, and inflammation. Germline Nr5a2 heterozygosity sensitizes mice to the oncogenic effects of mutant Kras in the pancreas. Here, we show that - unlike constitutive Nr5a2+/- mice - conditional Nr5a2 heterozygosity in pancreatic epithelial cells, combined with mutant Kras (KPN+/- ), leads to a dramatic replacement of the pancreatic parenchyma with cystic structures and an accelerated development of high-grade PanINs and PDAC. Timed histopathological analyses indicated that in KPN+/- mice PanINs precede the formation of cystic lesions and the latter precede PDAC. A single episode of acute caerulein pancreatitis is sufficient to accelerate the development of cystic lesions in KPN+/- mice. Epithelial cells of cystic lesions of KPN+/- mice express MUC1, MUC5AC, and MUC6, but lack expression of MUC2, CDX2, and acinar markers, indicative of a pancreato-biliary/gastric phenotype. In accordance with this, in human samples we found a non-significantly decreased expression of NR5A2 in mucinous tumours, compared with conventional PDAC. These results highlight that the effects of loss of one Nr5a2 allele are time- and cell context-dependent. KPN+/- mice represent a new model to study the formation of cystic pancreatic lesions and their relationship with PanINs and classical PDAC. Our findings suggest that pancreatitis could also contribute to acceleration of cystic tumour progression in patients. © 2020 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidoro Cobo
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre - CNIO, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Iglesias
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Hospital del Mar, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Flández
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre - CNIO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Caroline Verbeke
- Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Natalia Del Pozo
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre - CNIO, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miriam Llorente
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre - CNIO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rita Lawlor
- ARC - Net Centre for Applied Research on Cancer and Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Claudio Luchini
- ARC - Net Centre for Applied Research on Cancer and Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Borislav Rusev
- ARC - Net Centre for Applied Research on Cancer and Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- ARC - Net Centre for Applied Research on Cancer and Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francisco X Real
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre - CNIO, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
- Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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30
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Paoli C, Carrer A. Organotypic Culture of Acinar Cells for the Study of Pancreatic Cancer Initiation. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2606. [PMID: 32932616 PMCID: PMC7564199 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12092606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The carcinogenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) progresses according to multi-step evolution, whereby the disease acquires increasingly aggressive pathological features. On the other hand, disease inception is poorly investigated. Decoding the cascade of events that leads to oncogenic transformation is crucial to design strategies for early diagnosis as well as to tackle tumor onset. Lineage-tracing experiments demonstrated that pancreatic cancerous lesions originate from acinar cells, a highly specialized cell type in the pancreatic epithelium. Primary acinar cells can survive in vitro as organoid-like 3D spheroids, which can transdifferentiate into cells with a clear ductal morphology in response to different cell- and non-cell-autonomous stimuli. This event, termed acinar-to-ductal metaplasia, recapitulates the histological and molecular features of disease initiation. Here, we will discuss the isolation and culture of primary pancreatic acinar cells, providing a historical and technical perspective. The impact of pancreatic cancer research will also be debated. In particular, we will dissect the roles of transcriptional, epigenetic, and metabolic reprogramming for tumor initiation and we will show how that can be modeled using ex vivo acinar cell cultures. Finally, mechanisms of PDA initiation described using organotypical cultures will be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Paoli
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy;
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Carrer
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy;
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy
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31
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Patil S, Steuber B, Kopp W, Kari V, Urbach L, Wang X, Küffer S, Bohnenberger H, Spyropoulou D, Zhang Z, Versemann L, Bösherz MS, Brunner M, Gaedcke J, Ströbel P, Zhang JS, Neesse A, Ellenrieder V, Singh SK, Johnsen SA, Hessmann E. EZH2 Regulates Pancreatic Cancer Subtype Identity and Tumor Progression via Transcriptional Repression of GATA6. Cancer Res 2020; 80:4620-4632. [PMID: 32907838 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-0672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have thoroughly described genome-wide expression patterns defining molecular subtypes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), with different prognostic and predictive implications. Although the reversible nature of key regulatory transcription circuits defining the two extreme PDAC subtype lineages "classical" and "basal-like" suggests that subtype states are not permanently encoded but underlie a certain degree of plasticity, pharmacologically actionable drivers of PDAC subtype identity remain elusive. Here, we characterized the mechanistic and functional implications of the histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in controlling PDAC plasticity, dedifferentiation, and molecular subtype identity. Utilization of transgenic PDAC models and human PDAC samples linked EZH2 activity to PDAC dedifferentiation and tumor progression. Combined RNA- and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing studies identified EZH2 as a pivotal suppressor of differentiation programs in PDAC and revealed EZH2-dependent transcriptional repression of the classical subtype defining transcription factor Gata6 as a mechanistic basis for EZH2-dependent PDAC progression. Importantly, genetic or pharmacologic depletion of EZH2 sufficiently increased GATA6 expression, thus inducing a gene signature shift in favor of a less aggressive and more therapy-susceptible, classical PDAC subtype state. Consistently, abrogation of GATA6 expression in EZH2-deficient PDAC cells counteracted the acquisition of classical gene signatures and rescued their invasive capacities, suggesting that GATA6 derepression is critical to overcome PDAC progression in the context of EZH2 inhibition. Together, our findings link the EZH2-GATA6 axis to PDAC subtype identity and uncover EZH2 inhibition as an appealing strategy to induce subtype-switching in favor of a less aggressive PDAC phenotype. SIGNIFICANCE: This study highlights the role of EZH2 in PDAC progression and molecular subtype identity and suggests EZH2 inhibition as a strategy to recalibrate GATA6 expression in favor of a less aggressive disease. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/80/21/4620/F1.large.jpg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Patil
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Steuber
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Waltraut Kopp
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Vijayalakshmi Kari
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Laura Urbach
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Küffer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Hanibal Bohnenberger
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Dimitra Spyropoulou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Lennart Versemann
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | | | - Marius Brunner
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jochen Gaedcke
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jin-San Zhang
- Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China.,Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Albrecht Neesse
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Volker Ellenrieder
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Shiv K Singh
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Steven A Johnsen
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.,Gene Regulatory Mechanisms and Molecular Epigenetics Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Elisabeth Hessmann
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
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32
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Chen W, Chen Z, Zhang M, Tian Y, Liu L, Lan R, Zeng G, Fu X, Ru G, Liu W, Chen L, Fan Z. GATA6 Exerts Potent Lung Cancer Suppressive Function by Inducing Cell Senescence. Front Oncol 2020; 10:824. [PMID: 32596145 PMCID: PMC7304445 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) play a critical role in restricting tumorigenesis and impact the therapeutic effect of various treatments. However, TSGs remain to be systemically determined in lung cancer. Here, we identified GATA6 as a potent lung cancer TSG. GATA6 inhibited lung cancer cell growth in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. Mechanistically, GATA6 upregulated p53 and p21 mRNA while it inhibited AKT activation to stabilize p21 protein, thus inducing lung cancer cell senescence. Furthermore, we showed that ectopic expression of GATA6 led to dramatic slowdown of growth rate of established lung tumor xenograft in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wensheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhipeng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yahui Tian
- Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruirui Lan
- International Department, The Affiliated High School of SCNU, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guandi Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaolong Fu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoqing Ru
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wanting Liu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenzhen Fan
- Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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33
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Storz P, Crawford HC. Carcinogenesis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Gastroenterology 2020; 158:2072-2081. [PMID: 32199881 PMCID: PMC7282937 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.02.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although the estimated time for development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is more than 20 years, PDAs are usually detected at late, metastatic stages. PDAs develop from duct-like cells through a multistep carcinogenesis process, from low-grade dysplastic lesions to carcinoma in situ and eventually to metastatic disease. This process involves gradual acquisition of mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, as well as changes in the pancreatic environment from a pro-inflammatory microenvironment that favors the development of early lesions, to a desmoplastic tumor microenvironment that is highly fibrotic and immune suppressive. This review discusses our current understanding of how PDA originates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Storz
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida.
| | - Howard C. Crawford
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, To whom correspondence should be addressed: Peter Storz, Mayo Clinic, Griffin Room 306, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224. Phone: (904) 953-6909, ; or Howard Crawford, University of Michigan, 4304 Rogel Cancer Center, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48109. Phone: (734) 764-3815,
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34
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Kalisz M, Bernardo E, Beucher A, Maestro MA, del Pozo N, Millán I, Haeberle L, Schlensog M, Safi SA, Knoefel WT, Grau V, de Vas M, Shpargel KB, Vaquero E, Magnuson T, Ortega S, Esposito I, Real FX, Ferrer J. HNF1A recruits KDM6A to activate differentiated acinar cell programs that suppress pancreatic cancer. EMBO J 2020; 39:e102808. [PMID: 32154941 PMCID: PMC7196917 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019102808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Defects in transcriptional regulators of pancreatic exocrine differentiation have been implicated in pancreatic tumorigenesis, but the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. The locus encoding the transcription factor HNF1A harbors susceptibility variants for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), while KDM6A, encoding Lysine-specific demethylase 6A, carries somatic mutations in PDAC. Here, we show that pancreas-specific Hnf1a null mutant transcriptomes phenocopy those of Kdm6a mutations, and both defects synergize with KrasG12D to cause PDAC with sarcomatoid features. We combine genetic, epigenomic, and biochemical studies to show that HNF1A recruits KDM6A to genomic binding sites in pancreatic acinar cells. This remodels the acinar enhancer landscape, activates differentiated acinar cell programs, and indirectly suppresses oncogenic and epithelial-mesenchymal transition genes. We also identify a subset of non-classical PDAC samples that exhibit the HNF1A/KDM6A-deficient molecular phenotype. These findings provide direct genetic evidence that HNF1A deficiency promotes PDAC. They also connect the tumor-suppressive role of KDM6A deficiency with a cell-specific molecular mechanism that underlies PDAC subtype definition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Kalisz
- Section of Epigenomics and DiseaseDepartment of MedicineImperial College LondonLondonUK
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis GroupSpanish National Cancer Research Centre‐CNIOMadridSpain
- CIBERONCMadridSpain
| | - Edgar Bernardo
- Bioinformatics and Genomics ProgramCentre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST)BarcelonaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Anthony Beucher
- Section of Epigenomics and DiseaseDepartment of MedicineImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Miguel Angel Maestro
- Bioinformatics and Genomics ProgramCentre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST)BarcelonaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Natalia del Pozo
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis GroupSpanish National Cancer Research Centre‐CNIOMadridSpain
- CIBERONCMadridSpain
| | - Irene Millán
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis GroupSpanish National Cancer Research Centre‐CNIOMadridSpain
- CIBERONCMadridSpain
| | - Lena Haeberle
- Institute of PathologyHeinrich‐Heine University and University Hospital of DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Martin Schlensog
- Institute of PathologyHeinrich‐Heine University and University Hospital of DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Sami Alexander Safi
- Department of SurgeryHeinrich‐Heine University and University Hospital of DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Wolfram Trudo Knoefel
- Department of SurgeryHeinrich‐Heine University and University Hospital of DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Vanessa Grau
- Bioinformatics and Genomics ProgramCentre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST)BarcelonaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Matías de Vas
- Section of Epigenomics and DiseaseDepartment of MedicineImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Karl B Shpargel
- Department of Genetics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNCUSA
| | - Eva Vaquero
- CiberEHDInstitut de Malalties Digestives i MetabòliquesHospital ClínicIDIBAPSBarcelonaSpain
| | - Terry Magnuson
- Department of Genetics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNCUSA
| | - Sagrario Ortega
- Transgenics UnitSpanish National Cancer Research Centre‐CNIOMadridSpain
| | - Irene Esposito
- Department of SurgeryHeinrich‐Heine University and University Hospital of DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Francisco X Real
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis GroupSpanish National Cancer Research Centre‐CNIOMadridSpain
- CIBERONCMadridSpain
- Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la SalutUniversitat Pompeu FabraBarcelonaSpain
| | - Jorge Ferrer
- Section of Epigenomics and DiseaseDepartment of MedicineImperial College LondonLondonUK
- Bioinformatics and Genomics ProgramCentre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST)BarcelonaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM)BarcelonaSpain
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35
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Bärthel S, Schneider G, Saur D. Blocking the road to de-differentiation: HNF1A/KDM6A complex safeguards epithelial integrity in pancreatic cancer. EMBO J 2020; 39:e104759. [PMID: 32236961 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020104759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial differentiation of normal and tumor cells is orchestrated by lineage-determining transcriptional regulatory networks that enforce cell identity. Recent research by Kalisz et al (2020) in the EMBO Journal elucidates the molecular mechanisms by which a transcriptional differentiation program governed by HNF1A and KDM6A maintains acinar differentiation and the epithelial identity of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Loss of function of either transcriptional regulator induces tumor progression to a poorly differentiated and highly aggressive PDAC subtype with a squamous transcriptome and poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Bärthel
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany.,Institute of Translational Cancer Research and Experimental Cancer Therapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Günter Schneider
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany.,Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Dieter Saur
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany.,Institute of Translational Cancer Research and Experimental Cancer Therapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany.,Department of Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
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36
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Arnal-Estapé A, Cai WL, Albert AE, Zhao M, Stevens LE, López-Giráldez F, Patel KD, Tyagi S, Schmitt EM, Westbrook TF, Nguyen DX. Tumor progression and chromatin landscape of lung cancer are regulated by the lineage factor GATA6. Oncogene 2020; 39:3726-3737. [PMID: 32157212 PMCID: PMC7190573 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1246-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Lineage selective transcription factors (TFs) are important regulators of tumorigenesis, but their biological functions are often context dependent with undefined epigenetic mechanisms of action. In this study, we uncover a conditional role for the endodermal and pulmonary specifying TF GATA6 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) progression. Impairing Gata6 in genetically engineered mouse models reduces the proliferation and increases the differentiation of Kras mutant LUAD tumors. These effects are influenced by the epithelial cell type that is targeted for transformation and genetic context of Kras-mediated tumor initiation. In LUAD cells derived from surfactant protein C expressing progenitors, we identify multiple genomic loci that are bound by GATA6. Moreover, suppression of Gata6 in these cells significantly alters chromatin accessibility, particularly at distal enhancer elements. Analogous to its paradoxical activity in lung development, GATA6 expression fluctuates during different stages of LUAD progression and can epigenetically control diverse transcriptional programs associated with bone morphogenetic protein signaling, alveolar specification, and tumor suppression. These findings reveal how GATA6 can modulate the chromatin landscape of lung cancer cells to control their proliferation and divergent lineage dependencies during tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Arnal-Estapé
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Wesley L Cai
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Alexandra E Albert
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Minghui Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Laura E Stevens
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Kiran D Patel
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Siddhartha Tyagi
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Earlene M Schmitt
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Thomas F Westbrook
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Therapeutic Innovation Center (THINC), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Don X Nguyen
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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37
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Wang C, Liu Q, Huang M, Zhou Q, Zhang X, Zhang J, Xie R, Yu Y, Chen S, Fan J, Chen X. Loss of GATA6 expression promotes lymphatic metastasis in bladder cancer. FASEB J 2020; 34:5754-5766. [PMID: 32103545 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201903176r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Lymph node metastasis is associated with tumor relapse and poor patient prognosis in bladder cancer. However, the mechanisms by which bladder carcinoma cells induce lymphangiogenesis and further promote metastasis in the lymphatic system remain unclear. Here, we show that the transcription factor GATA-binding factor 6 (GATA6) was substantially downregulated in bladder cancer via promoter hypermethylation. Low-level GATA6 expression significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis positivity and was able to predict earlier relapse and shorter survival of bladder cancer. Reconstitution of GATA6 inhibited lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis in GATA6-low bladder cancer cells, while silencing of GATA6 rendered lymphatic metastasis in GATA6-high bladder cancer cells. Additionally, we demonstrated that GATA6 bound to the promoter of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C, a lymphangiogenic factor, and acted as a transcriptional repressor. This GATA6/VEGF-C axis was essential for GATA6-mediated lymphatic metastasis. In bladder cancer patients, low GATA6 correlated with high VEGF-C and reduced overall survival. These findings indicate GATA6 as a pivotal regulator in the lymphatic dissemination of bladder cancer and suggest a new therapeutic target for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanjuan Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qinghua Liu
- Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming Huang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianghua Zhou
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingtong Zhang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruihui Xie
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanqi Yu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shang Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianbing Fan
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xu Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
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38
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Villamayor L, Cano DA, Rojas A. GATA factors in pancreas development and disease. IUBMB Life 2019; 72:80-88. [PMID: 31580534 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
There is an urgent need for the development of novel therapeutics options for diabetic patients given the high prevalence of diabetes worldwide and that, currently, there is no cure for this disease. The transplantation of pancreatic islets that contain insulin-producing cells is a promising therapeutic alternative, particularly for type 1 diabetes. However, the shortage of organ donors constitutes a major limitation for this approach; thus, developing alternative sources of insulin-producing cells is of critical importance. In the last decade, our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms controlling embryonic pancreas development has significantly advanced. More importantly, this knowledge has provided the basis for the in vitro generation of insulin-producing cells from stem cells. Recent studies have revealed that GATA transcription factors are involved in various stages of pancreas formation and in the adult ß cell function. Here, we review the fundamental role of GATA transcription factors in pancreas morphogenesis and their association with congenital diseases associated with pancreas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Villamayor
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa-CABIMER, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - David A Cano
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Anabel Rojas
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa-CABIMER, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Seville, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Madrid, Spain
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39
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Romano O, Miccio A. GATA factor transcriptional activity: Insights from genome-wide binding profiles. IUBMB Life 2019; 72:10-26. [PMID: 31574210 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The members of the GATA family of transcription factors have homologous zinc fingers and bind to similar sequence motifs. Recent advances in genome-wide technologies and the integration of bioinformatics data have led to a better understanding of how GATA factors regulate gene expression; GATA-factor-induced transcriptional and epigenetic changes have now been analyzed at unprecedented levels of detail. Here, we review the results of genome-wide studies of GATA factor occupancy in human and murine cell lines and primary cells (as determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing), and then discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the mediation of transcriptional and epigenetic regulation by GATA factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriana Romano
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Annarita Miccio
- Laboratory of chromatin and gene regulation during development, Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR, Paris, France.,Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Imagine Institute, Paris, France
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40
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Sun Z, Yan B. Multiple roles and regulatory mechanisms of the transcription factor GATA6 in human cancers. Clin Genet 2019; 97:64-72. [PMID: 31437305 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is a common type of non-communicable disease, and its morbidity and mortality are rapidly increasing. It is expected to become the largest obstacle to the promotion of global human health in the future. Some transcription factors that play important regulatory roles in embryogenesis and subsequent tissue maintenance can be selectively amplified during tumorigenesis. Due to its high expression in the embryonic endoderm and mesoderm, GATA6 plays a crucial role in the normal development of early human heart, lung, digestive system, adrenal glands, breasts, ovaries, retina, skin, and nervous system. Up to now, overexpression of the GATA6 gene has been shown to play an important role in several cancers, including lung cancer, digestive system tumors, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. However, the human body is a complex organism, which causes the transcription factor GATA6 to have multiple roles in cancer. In this review, we summarize the multiple roles of transcription factor GATA6 in various cancers and its regulatory mechanisms. The aim is to better understand the relationship between GATA6 gene expression and cancer development and to provide new insights for exploring potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoqing Sun
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Bo Yan
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardiac Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong, China.,The Center for Molecular Genetics of Cardiovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong, China.,Shandong Provincial Sino-US Cooperation Research Center for Translational Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong, China
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41
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Crawford HC, Pasca di Magliano M, Banerjee S. Signaling Networks That Control Cellular Plasticity in Pancreatic Tumorigenesis, Progression, and Metastasis. Gastroenterology 2019; 156:2073-2084. [PMID: 30716326 PMCID: PMC6545585 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.12.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the deadliest cancers, and its incidence on the rise. The major challenges in overcoming the poor prognosis with this disease include late detection and the aggressive biology of the disease. Intratumoral heterogeneity; presence of a robust, reactive, and desmoplastic stroma; and the crosstalk between the different tumor components require complete understanding of the pancreatic tumor biology to better understand the therapeutic challenges posed by this disease. In this review, we discuss the processes involved during tumorigenesis encompassing the inherent plasticity of the transformed cells, development of tumor stroma crosstalk, and enrichment of cancer stem cell population during tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard C Crawford
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Marina Pasca di Magliano
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Sulagna Banerjee
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida; Sylvester Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, Florida.
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42
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Tan HW, Leung CON, Chan KKS, Ho DWH, Leung MS, Wong CM, Ng IOL, Lo RCL. Deregulated GATA6 modulates stem cell-like properties and metabolic phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Cancer 2019; 145:1860-1873. [PMID: 30834518 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence illustrates the significance of cell plasticity in the molecular biology of liver cancer. Reprogramming of mature parenchymal cells to a less differentiated state by key molecular targets contributes to the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hereby, we investigated the role of GATA6, a transcription factor implicated in hepatocyte lineage specification, in HCC. Our results demonstrated a lower expression of GATA6 in HCC tissues compared to the corresponding nontumoral liver tissues. Moreover, GATA6 underexpression, as observed in about 50% cases in our clinical cohort, was associated with a poorer degree of tumor cell differentiation and worse disease-free survival outcome. In vitro, silencing of GATA6 in HCC cells augmented cell migration and invasion abilities of HCC cells by activating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Self-renewal was also enhanced in vitro. Consistently, in vivo tumorigenicity and self-renewal was promoted upon GATA6 knockdown. Notably, suppression of GATA6 converts HCC cells to a metabolic phenotype recapitulating stem-cell state. Expression of glycolytic markers was elevated in GATA6-knockdown clones accompanied by increased glucose uptake; while overexpression of GATA6 resulted in opposite effects. Further to this, we identified that GATA6 bound to the promoter region of PKM gene and regulated PKM2 transcription. Taken together, downregulation of GATA6 directs HCC cells to glycolytic metabolism and fosters tumorigenicity, self-renewal and metastasis. GATA6 is a transcriptional regulator and a genetic switch that converts the phenotypic reprogramming of HCC cells. It is a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Wei Tan
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Carmen Oi-Ning Leung
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.,Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| | | | - Daniel Wai-Hung Ho
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Ming-Sum Leung
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Ming Wong
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Oi-Lin Ng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Regina Cheuk-Lam Lo
- Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
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43
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Regulation of the Pancreatic Exocrine Differentiation Program and Morphogenesis by Onecut 1/Hnf6. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019; 7:841-856. [PMID: 30831323 PMCID: PMC6476890 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The Onecut 1 transcription factor (Oc1, a.k.a. HNF6) promotes differentiation of endocrine and duct cells of the pancreas; however, it has no known role in acinar cell differentiation. We sought to better understand the role of Oc1 in exocrine pancreas development and to identify its direct transcriptional targets. METHODS Pancreata from Oc1Δpanc (Oc1fl/fl;Pdx1-Cre) mouse embryos and neonates were analyzed morphologically. High-throughput RNA-sequencing was performed on control and Oc1-deficient pancreas; chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing was performed on wild-type embryonic mouse pancreata to identify direct Oc1 transcriptional targets. Immunofluorescence labeling was used to confirm the RNA-sequencing /chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing results and to further investigate the effects of Oc1 loss on acinar cells. RESULTS Loss of Oc1 from the developing pancreatic epithelium resulted in disrupted duct and acinar cell development. RNA-sequencing revealed decreased expression of acinar cell regulatory factors (Nr5a2, Ptf1a, Gata4, Mist1) and functional genes (Amylase, Cpa1, Prss1, Spink1) at embryonic day (e) 18.5 in Oc1Δpanc samples. Approximately 1000 of the altered genes were also identified as direct Oc1 targets by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, including most of the previously noted genes. By immunolabeling, we confirmed that Amylase, Mist1, and GATA4 protein levels are significantly decreased by P2, and Spink1 protein levels were significantly reduced and mislocalized. The pancreatic duct regulatory factors Hnf1β and FoxA2 were also identified as direct Oc1 targets. CONCLUSIONS These findings confirm that Oc1 is an important regulator of both duct and acinar cell development in the embryonic pancreas. Novel transcriptional targets of Oc1 have now been identified and provide clarity into the mechanisms of Oc1 transcriptional regulation in the developing exocrine pancreas. Oc1 can now be included in the gene-regulatory network of acinar cell regulatory genes. Oc1 regulates other acinar cell regulatory factors and acinar cell functional genes directly, and it can also regulate some acinar cell regulatory factors (eg, Mist1) indirectly. Oc1 therefore plays an important role in acinar cell development.
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44
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Martinelli P, Real FX. Mouse Models Shed Light on the SLIT/ROBO Pathway in Pancreatic Development and Cancer. Trends Cancer 2019; 5:145-148. [PMID: 30898261 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The SLIT/ROBO pathway is classically known for its role in axon guidance, and is frequently lost in pancreatic cancer, but the biology behind this is poorly understood. Two recent articles (Nat. Commun. 2018;9:5082; Nat. Commun. 2018;9:5083) using mouse models show that SLIT/ROBO signaling is crucial to determine pancreatic cell identity during development and suppresses the stromal activation in disease, through divergent mechanisms. SLIT/ROBO proteins thus link development and cancer, but appear to have distinct functions in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Martinelli
- Medical University Vienna, Institute of Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Francisco X Real
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre-CNIO, Madrid, Spain; CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain; Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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45
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Young CC, Baker RM, Howlett CJ, Hryciw T, Herman JE, Higgs D, Gibbons R, Crawford H, Brown A, Pin CL. The Loss of ATRX Increases Susceptibility to Pancreatic Injury and Oncogenic KRAS in Female But Not Male Mice. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 7:93-113. [PMID: 30510993 PMCID: PMC6260375 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the third leading cause of cancer death in North America, accounting for >30,000 deaths annually. Although somatic activating mutations in KRAS appear in 97% of PDAC patients, additional factors are required to initiate PDAC. Because mutations in genes encoding chromatin remodelling proteins have been implicated in KRAS-mediated PDAC, we investigated whether loss of chromatin remodeler ɑ-thalassemia, mental-retardation, X-linked (ATRX) affects oncogenic KRAS's ability to promote PDAC. ATRX affects DNA replication, repair, and gene expression and is implicated in other cancers including glioblastomas and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The hypothesis was that deletion of Atrx in pancreatic acinar cells will increase susceptibility to injury and oncogenic KRAS. Methods Mice allowing conditional loss of Atrx within pancreatic acinar cells were examined after induction of recurrent cerulein-induced pancreatitis or oncogenic KRAS (KRASG12D ). Histologic, biochemical, and molecular analysis examined pancreatic pathologies up to 2 months after induction of Atrx deletion. Results Mice lacking Atrx showed more progressive damage, inflammation, and acinar-to-duct cell metaplasia in response to injury relative to wild-type mice. In combination with KRASG12D, Atrx-deficient acinar cells showed increased fibrosis, inflammation, progression to acinar-to-duct cell metaplasia, and pre-cancerous lesions relative to mice expressing only KRASG12D. This sensitivity appears only in female mice, mimicking a significant prevalence of ATRX mutations in human female PDAC patients. Conclusions Our results indicate the absence of ATRX increases sensitivity to injury and oncogenic KRAS only in female mice. This is an instance of a sex-specific mutation that enhances oncogenic KRAS's ability to promote pancreatic intraepithelial lesion formation.
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Key Words
- ADM, acinar-to-duct cell metaplasia
- ANOVA, analysis of variance
- ATRX, ɑ-thalassemia, mental-retardation, X-linked
- CIP, cerulein induced pancreatitis
- CPA, carboxypeptidase
- DAXX, death associated protein 6
- EZH2, Enhancer of Zeste Homologue 2, MKA, Mist1creERT/+KrasLSL-G12D/+AtrxflΔ18
- Epigenetics
- MIST1
- PDAC, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
- PanIN, pancreatic intraepithelial lesion
- Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
- SOX9
- WT, wild-type
- ds, double stranded
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire C Young
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryan M Baker
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher J Howlett
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Todd Hryciw
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Douglas Higgs
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Gibbons
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Howard Crawford
- Molecular & Integrative Physiology and Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Arthur Brown
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher L Pin
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
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46
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Pancreatic cancer stem cells: A state or an entity? Semin Cancer Biol 2018; 53:223-231. [PMID: 30130664 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common type of pancreatic cancer, has a median overall survival of 6-12 months and a 5-year survival of less than 7%. While PDAC currently represents the 4th most frequent cause of death due to cancer worldwide, it is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. These alarming statistics are primarily due to both the inherent chemoresistant and metastatic nature of this tumor, and the existence of a subpopulation of highly plastic "stem"-like cells within the tumor, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). Since their discovery in PDAC in 2007, we have come to realize that pancreatic CSCs have unique metabolic, autophagic, invasive, and chemoresistance properties that allow them to continuously self-renew and escape chemo-therapeutic elimination. More importantly, the concept of the CSC as a fixed entity within the tumor has also evolved, and current data suggest that CSCs are states rather than defined entities. Consequently, current treatments for the majority of PDAC patients are not effective, and do not significantly impact overall patient survival, as they do not adequately target the plastic CSC sub-population nor the transient/hybrid cells that can replenish the CSC pool. Thus, it is necessary that we improve our understanding of the characteristics and signals that maintain and drive the pancreatic CSC population in order to develop new therapies to target these cells. Herein, we will provide the latest updates and knowledge on the inherent characteristics of pancreatic CSCs and the CSC niche, specifically the cross-talk that exists between CSCs and niche resident cells. Lastly, we will address the question of whether a CSC is a state or an entity and discuss how the answer to this question can impact treatment approaches.
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Jakubison BL, Schweickert PG, Moser SE, Yang Y, Gao H, Scully K, Itkin-Ansari P, Liu Y, Konieczny SF. Induced PTF1a expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells activates acinar gene networks, reduces tumorigenic properties, and sensitizes cells to gemcitabine treatment. Mol Oncol 2018; 12:1104-1124. [PMID: 29719936 PMCID: PMC6026875 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic acinar cells synthesize, package, and secrete digestive enzymes into the duodenum to aid in nutrient absorption and meet metabolic demands. When exposed to cellular stresses and insults, acinar cells undergo a dedifferentiation process termed acinar-ductal metaplasia (ADM). ADM lesions with oncogenic mutations eventually give rise to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In healthy pancreata, the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) factors MIST1 and PTF1a coordinate an acinar-specific transcription network that maintains the highly developed differentiation status of the cells, protecting the pancreas from undergoing a transformative process. However, when MIST1 and PTF1a gene expression is silenced, cells are more prone to progress to PDAC. In this study, we tested whether induced MIST1 or PTF1a expression in PDAC cells could (i) re-establish the transcriptional program of differentiated acinar cells and (ii) simultaneously reduce tumor cell properties. As predicted, PTF1a induced gene expression of digestive enzymes and acinar-specific transcription factors, while MIST1 induced gene expression of vesicle trafficking molecules as well as activation of unfolded protein response components, all of which are essential to handle the high protein production load that is characteristic of acinar cells. Importantly, induction of PTF1a in PDAC also influenced cancer-associated properties, leading to a decrease in cell proliferation, cancer stem cell numbers, and repression of key ATP-binding cassette efflux transporters resulting in heightened sensitivity to gemcitabine. Thus, activation of pancreatic bHLH transcription factors rescues the acinar gene program and decreases tumorigenic properties in pancreatic cancer cells, offering unique opportunities to develop novel therapeutic intervention strategies for this deadly disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad L Jakubison
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Patrick G Schweickert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Sarah E Moser
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Hongyu Gao
- Laboratory for Computational Genomics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kathleen Scully
- Development and Aging Program, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Pamela Itkin-Ansari
- Development and Aging Program, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yunlong Liu
- Laboratory for Computational Genomics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Stephen F Konieczny
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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Nakajima N, Yoshizawa A, Nakajima T, Hirata M, Furuhata A, Sumiyoshi S, Rokutan-Kurata M, Sonobe M, Menju T, Miyamoto E, Chen-Yoshikawa TF, Date H, Haga H. GATA6-positive lung adenocarcinomas are associated with invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma morphology, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α expression, and KRAS mutations. Histopathology 2018; 73:38-48. [PMID: 29469192 DOI: 10.1111/his.13500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AIMS GATA6 is known to play a role in lung development. However, its role in the carcinogenesis of lung cancer is not well studied. The aim of this study was to analyse GATA6 expression in lung adenocarcinomas (LAs) by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in order to define its association with clinicopathological characteristics. METHODS AND RESULTS IHC analysis of GATA6 was performed with tissue microarray slides containing 348 LAs. The association between GATA6 expression and clinicopathological parameters was evaluated. GATA6 expression in epithelial tumours other than lung cancer was also evaluated. GATA6 expression was found in 47 LAs (13.5%). This occurred more frequently in younger patients (P = 0.005), and was associated with the absence of lymph node metastasis (P =0.024), well-differentiated to moderately differentiated tumours (P < 0.001), the absence of lymphatic invasion (P = 0.020), and the absence of vascular invasion (P = 0.011). GATA6 expression was associated with mucin production (P < 0.001), the invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma subtype (P < 0.001), KRAS mutations (P = 0.026), expression of MUC2 (P < 0.001), CDX2 (P = 0.049), and MUC5AC (P < 0.001), and absence of expression of TTF-1 (P = 0.002). GATA6 expression was also associated with hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) expression (P < 0.001). GATA6 expression tended to indicate better prognoses, whereas patients with HNF4α expression had significantly worse prognoses (P = 0.033). Of 270 tumours other than lung cancer, 110 expressed GATA6. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that GATA6 might interact with HNF4α and contribute to the development of mucinous-type LAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Nakajima
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akihiko Yoshizawa
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Nakajima
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shinshu University Hospital, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hirata
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ayako Furuhata
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shinji Sumiyoshi
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Makoto Sonobe
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshi Menju
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ei Miyamoto
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Hiroshi Date
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hironori Haga
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
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49
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Sánchez-Arévalo Lobo VJ, Fernández LC, Carrillo-de-Santa-Pau E, Richart L, Cobo I, Cendrowski J, Moreno U, Del Pozo N, Megías D, Bréant B, Wright CV, Magnuson M, Real FX. c-Myc downregulation is required for preacinar to acinar maturation and pancreatic homeostasis. Gut 2018; 67:707-718. [PMID: 28159836 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2016-312306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Revised: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS c-Myc is highly expressed in pancreatic multipotent progenitor cells (MPC) and in pancreatic cancer. The transition from MPC to unipotent acinar progenitors is associated with c-Myc downregulation; a role for c-Myc in this process, and its possible relationship to a role in cancer, has not been established. DESIGN Using coimmunoprecipitation assays, we demonstrate that c-Myc and Ptf1a interact. Using reverse transcriptase qPCR, western blot and immunofluorescence, we show the erosion of the acinar programme. To analyse the genomic distribution of c-Myc and Ptf1a and the global transcriptomic profile, we used ChIP-seq and RNA-seq, respectively; validation was performed with ChIP-qPCR and RT-qPCR. Lineage-tracing experiments were used to follow the effect of c-Myc overexpression in preacinar cells on acinar differentiation. RESULTS c-Myc binds and represses the transcriptional activity of Ptf1a. c-Myc overexpression in preacinar cells leads to a massive erosion of differentiation. In adult Ela1-Myc mice: (1) c-Myc binds to Ptf1a, and Tcf3 is downregulated; (2) Ptf1a and c-Myc display partially overlapping chromatin occupancy but do not bind the same E-boxes; (3) at the proximal promoter of genes coding for digestive enzymes, we find reduced PTF1 binding and increased levels of repressive chromatin marks and PRC2 complex components. Lineage tracing of committed acinar precursors reveals that c-Myc overexpression does not restore multipotency but allows the persistence of a preacinar-like cell population. In addition, mutant KRas can lead to c-Myc overexpression and acinar dysregulation. CONCLUSIONS c-Myc repression during development is crucial for the maturation of preacinar cells, and c-Myc overexpression can contribute to pancreatic carcinogenesis through the induction of a dedifferentiated state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor J Sánchez-Arévalo Lobo
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Cancer Cell Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Center-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis César Fernández
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Cancer Cell Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Center-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Enrique Carrillo-de-Santa-Pau
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Cancer Cell Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Center-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laia Richart
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Cancer Cell Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Center-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isidoro Cobo
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Cancer Cell Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Center-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaroslaw Cendrowski
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Cancer Cell Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Center-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ulisses Moreno
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Cancer Cell Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Center-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalia Del Pozo
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Cancer Cell Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Center-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Megías
- Confocal Microscopy Unit, Biotechnology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Center-CNIO, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Christopher V Wright
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Mark Magnuson
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Francisco X Real
- Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group, Cancer Cell Biology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Center-CNIO, Madrid, Spain.,Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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50
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The Ever-Evolving Concept of the Cancer Stem Cell in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10020033. [PMID: 29373514 PMCID: PMC5836065 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10020033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common type of pancreatic cancer, is the 4th most frequent cause of cancer-related death worldwide, primarily due to the inherent chemoresistant nature and metastatic capacity of this tumor. The latter is believed to be mainly due to the existence of a subpopulation of highly plastic “stem”-like cells within the tumor, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs), which have been shown to have unique metabolic, autophagic, invasive, and chemoresistance properties that allow them to continuously self-renew and escape chemo-therapeutic elimination. As such, current treatments for the majority of PDAC patients are not effective and do not significantly impact overall patient survival (<7 months) as they do not affect the pancreatic CSC (PaCSC) population. In this context, it is important to highlight the need to better understand the characteristics of the PaCSC population in order to develop new therapies to target these cells. In this review, we will provide the latest updates and knowledge on the inherent characteristics of PaCSCs, particularly their unique biological properties including chemoresistance, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, plasticity, metabolism and autophagy.
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