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Sheikhlary S, Lopez DH, Moghimi S, Sun B. Recent Findings on Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: An Updated Review. Biomolecules 2024; 14:503. [PMID: 38672519 PMCID: PMC11048403 DOI: 10.3390/biom14040503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains one of the global leading causes of death and various vaccines have been developed over the years against it, including cell-based, nucleic acid-based, and viral-based cancer vaccines. Although many vaccines have been effective in in vivo and clinical studies and some have been FDA-approved, there are major limitations to overcome: (1) developing one universal vaccine for a specific cancer is difficult, as tumors with different antigens are different for different individuals, (2) the tumor antigens may be similar to the body's own antigens, and (3) there is the possibility of cancer recurrence. Therefore, developing personalized cancer vaccines with the ability to distinguish between the tumor and the body's antigens is indispensable. This paper provides a comprehensive review of different types of cancer vaccines and highlights important factors necessary for developing efficient cancer vaccines. Moreover, the application of other technologies in cancer therapy is discussed. Finally, several insights and conclusions are presented, such as the possibility of using cold plasma and cancer stem cells in developing future cancer vaccines, to tackle the major limitations in the cancer vaccine developmental process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sheikhlary
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - David Humberto Lopez
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (D.H.L.); (S.M.)
| | - Sophia Moghimi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (D.H.L.); (S.M.)
| | - Bo Sun
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (D.H.L.); (S.M.)
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2
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Kumar N, Sethi G. Telomerase and hallmarks of cancer: An intricate interplay governing cancer cell evolution. Cancer Lett 2023; 578:216459. [PMID: 37863351 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Transformed cells must acquire specific characteristics to be malignant. Weinberg and Hanahan characterize these characteristics as cancer hallmarks. Though these features are independently driven, substantial signaling crosstalk in transformed cells efficiently promotes these feature acquisitions. Telomerase is an enzyme complex that maintains telomere length. However, its main component, Telomere reverse transcriptase (TERT), has been found to interact with various signaling molecules like cMYC, NF-kB, BRG1 and cooperate in transcription and metabolic reprogramming, acting as a strong proponent of malignant features such as cell death resistance, sustained proliferation, angiogenesis activation, and metastasis, among others. It allows cells to avoid replicative senescence and achieve endless replicative potential. This review summarizes both the canonical and noncanonical functions of TERT and discusses how they promote cancer hallmarks. Understanding the role of Telomerase in promoting cancer hallmarks provides vital insight into the underlying mechanism of cancer genesis and progression and telomerase intervention as a possible therapeutic target for cancer treatment. More investigation into the precise molecular mechanisms of telomerase-mediated impacts on cancer hallmarks will contribute to developing more focused and customized cancer treatment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Kumar
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, 138673, Singapore
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology and NUS Centre for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117600, Singapore.
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3
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Ropio J, Prochazkova-Carlotti M, Batista R, Pestana A, Chebly A, Ferrer J, Idrissi Y, Cappellen D, Durães C, Boaventura P, Vinagre J, Azzi-Martin L, Poglio S, Cabeçadas J, Campos MA, Beylot-Barry M, Sobrinho-Simões M, Merlio JP, Soares P, Chevret E. Spotlight on hTERT Complex Regulation in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:439. [PMID: 36833366 PMCID: PMC9956048 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
As a major cancer hallmark, there is a sustained interest in understanding the telomerase contribution to carcinogenesis in order to therapeutically target this enzyme. This is particularly relevant in primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL), a malignancy showing telomerase dysregulation with few investigative data available. In CTCL, we examined the mechanisms involved in telomerase transcriptional activation and activity regulation. We analyzed 94 CTCL patients from a Franco-Portuguese cohort, as well as 8 cell lines, in comparison to 101 healthy controls. Our results showed that not only polymorphisms (SNPs) located at the promoter of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene (rs2735940 and rs2853672) but also an SNP located within the coding region (rs2853676) could influence CTCL occurrence. Furthermore, our results sustained that the post-transcriptional regulation of hTERT contributes to CTCL lymphomagenesis. Indeed, CTCL cells present a different pattern of hTERT spliced transcripts distribution from the controls, mostly marked by an increase in the hTERT β+ variants proportion. This increase seems to be associated with CTCL development and progression. Through hTERT splicing transcriptome modulation with shRNAs, we observed that the decrease in the α-β+ transcript induced a decrease in the cell proliferation and tumorigenic capacities of T-MF cells in vitro. Taken together, our data highlight the major role of post-transcriptional mechanisms regulating telomerase non canonical functions in CTCL and suggest a new potential role for the α-β+ hTERT transcript variant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Ropio
- BRIC (BoRdeaux Institute of onCology), UMR1312, INSERM, University of Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Abel Salazar, Porto University, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Rui Batista
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (I3S), Porto University, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Cancer Biology Group, Porto University, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Pestana
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (I3S), Porto University, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Cancer Biology Group, Porto University, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Alain Chebly
- BRIC (BoRdeaux Institute of onCology), UMR1312, INSERM, University of Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France
- Medical Genetics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut 1104 2020, Lebanon
- Higher Institute of Public Health, Saint Joseph University, Beirut 1104 2020, Lebanon
| | - Jacky Ferrer
- BRIC (BoRdeaux Institute of onCology), UMR1312, INSERM, University of Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Yamina Idrissi
- BRIC (BoRdeaux Institute of onCology), UMR1312, INSERM, University of Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - David Cappellen
- BRIC (BoRdeaux Institute of onCology), UMR1312, INSERM, University of Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France
- Tumor Bank and Tumor Biology Laboratory, Bordeaux University Hospital, 33075 Bordeaux, France
| | - Cecília Durães
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (I3S), Porto University, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Cancer Biology Group, Porto University, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Boaventura
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Cancer Biology Group, Porto University, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - João Vinagre
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (I3S), Porto University, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Cancer Biology Group, Porto University, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Lamia Azzi-Martin
- BRIC (BoRdeaux Institute of onCology), UMR1312, INSERM, University of Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France
- UFR des Sciences Médicales, Bordeaux University, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Sandrine Poglio
- BRIC (BoRdeaux Institute of onCology), UMR1312, INSERM, University of Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - José Cabeçadas
- Dermatology Departement, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa (IPO-L), 1099-023 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Manuel António Campos
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (I3S), Porto University, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Cancer Biology Group, Porto University, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, E.P.E., Dermatology Departement, 4434-502 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
| | - Marie Beylot-Barry
- BRIC (BoRdeaux Institute of onCology), UMR1312, INSERM, University of Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France
- Dermatology Department, Bordeaux University Hospital, 33075 Bordeaux, France
| | - Manuel Sobrinho-Simões
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (I3S), Porto University, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Cancer Biology Group, Porto University, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Jean-Philippe Merlio
- BRIC (BoRdeaux Institute of onCology), UMR1312, INSERM, University of Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France
- Tumor Bank and Tumor Biology Laboratory, Bordeaux University Hospital, 33075 Bordeaux, France
| | - Paula Soares
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (I3S), Porto University, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Cancer Biology Group, Porto University, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Edith Chevret
- BRIC (BoRdeaux Institute of onCology), UMR1312, INSERM, University of Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France
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FOXM1 increases hTERT protein stability and indicates poor prognosis in gastric cancer. Neoplasia 2022; 36:100863. [PMID: 36528911 PMCID: PMC9792884 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2022.100863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is one of most lethal diseases across the world. However, the underlying mechanism of gastric cancer carcinogenesis and development is still not fully known. Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) belongs to the FOX family and has crucial roles in transactivation of multiple oncogenes in several cancer types, including gastric cancer. Recent studies have also shown the non-transcriptional function of FOXM1 via protein-protein interactions. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is the core subunit of telomerase that facilitates cancer initiation and progression by maintaining cell immortalization, promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting cell apoptosis. However, the relationship between FOXM1 and hTERT in gastric cancer is still unclear. In our study, we found that FOXM1 and hTERT were convergent to the cell cycle-related pathways and they were positively related with advanced gastric cancer stages and poor outcomes. Simultaneous high levels of FOXM1 and hTERT predicted the worst prognosis. FOXM1 could increase hTERT protein rather than mRNA levels in a non-transcriptional manner. Mechanistically, FOXM1 interrupted the interaction between the E3 ligase MKRN1 and hTERT and decreased hTERT protein degradation. Further studies revealed that FOXM1 interacted with hTERT through its DNA-binding domain (DBD) region. Finally, we found that hTERT played important roles in FOXM1-mediated activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to promote gastric cancer cell proliferation. Taken together, we found a novel non-classical function of FOXM1 to increase hTERT protein stability. Targeting the FOXM1-hTERT pathway may be a potential therapeutic strategy in treating gastric cancer.
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A Unified Model of Age-Related Cardiovascular Disease. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11121768. [PMID: 36552277 PMCID: PMC9775230 DOI: 10.3390/biology11121768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite progress in biomedical technologies, cardiovascular disease remains the main cause of mortality. This is at least in part because current clinical interventions do not adequately take into account aging as a driver and are hence aimed at suboptimal targets. To achieve progress, consideration needs to be given to the role of cell aging in disease pathogenesis. We propose a model unifying the fundamental processes underlying most age-associated cardiovascular pathologies. According to this model, cell aging, leading to cell senescence, is responsible for tissue changes leading to age-related cardiovascular disease. This process, occurring due to telomerase inactivation and telomere attrition, affects all components of the cardiovascular system, including cardiomyocytes, vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, cardiac fibroblasts, and immune cells. The unified model offers insights into the relationship between upstream risk factors and downstream clinical outcomes and explains why interventions aimed at either of these components have limited success. Potential therapeutic approaches are considered based on this model. Because telomerase activity can prevent and reverse cell senescence, telomerase gene therapy is discussed as a promising intervention. Telomerase gene therapy and similar systems interventions based on the unified model are expected to be transformational in cardiovascular medicine.
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Gohara S, Shinohara K, Yoshida R, Kariya R, Tazawa H, Hashimoto M, Inoue J, Kubo R, Nakashima H, Arita H, Kawaguchi S, Yamana K, Nagao Y, Iwamoto A, Sakata J, Matsuoka Y, Takeshita H, Hirayama M, Kawahara K, Nagata M, Hirosue A, Kuwahara Y, Fukumoto M, Okada S, Urata Y, Fujiwara T, Nakayama H. An oncolytic virus as a promising candidate for the treatment of radioresistant oral squamous cell carcinoma. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 27:141-156. [PMID: 36381653 PMCID: PMC9619351 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the usefulness of an oncolytic virus (Suratadenoturev; OBP-301) against radioresistant oral squamous cell carcinoma. We confirmed the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase and the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor in cell lines. Also, we examined the potential presence in a patient who has received existing therapy that is amenable to treatment with OBP-301. We evaluated: (1) the antitumor effects of OBP-301 alone and in combination with radiotherapy on radioresistant cell lines, (2) the molecular mechanism underlying the radiosensitizing effect and cell death increased by the combination therapy, and (3) the antitumor effect of the combination therapy in vivo using xenograft models (a radioresistant cell line-derived xenograft in mouse and a patient-derived xenograft). Human telomerase reverse transcriptase and the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor were expressed in all cell lines. OBP-301 decreased the proliferative activity of these cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner, and significantly enhanced the antitumor effect of irradiation. Phosphorylated STAT3 and its downstream molecules, which correlated with apoptosis and autophagy, showed significant changes in expression after treatment with OBP-301. The combination therapy exerted a significant antitumor effect versus radiotherapy alone in both xenograft models. Combination of OBP-301 with radiotherapy exerts a synergistic effect and may represent a promising treatment for radioresistant oral squamous cell carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Gohara
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kosuke Shinohara
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Ryoji Yoshida
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Corresponding author Ryoji Yoshida, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
| | | | - Hiroshi Tazawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Masashi Hashimoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Junki Inoue
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kubo
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hikaru Nakashima
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Arita
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Sho Kawaguchi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Keisuke Yamana
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yuka Nagao
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Asuka Iwamoto
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Junki Sakata
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Matsuoka
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hisashi Takeshita
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Hirayama
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kenta Kawahara
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Masashi Nagata
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Akiyuki Hirosue
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Kuwahara
- Radiation Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Manabu Fukumoto
- Pathology Informatics Team, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiji Okada
- Division of Hematopoiesis, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection and Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yasuo Urata
- Division of Hematopoiesis, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection and Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Toshiyoshi Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hideki Nakayama
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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Koizume S, Takahashi T, Nakamura Y, Yoshihara M, Ota Y, Sato S, Tadokoro H, Yokose T, Kato H, Miyagi E, Miyagi Y. Lipophagy-ICAM-1 pathway associated with fatty acid and oxygen deficiencies is involved in poor prognoses of ovarian clear cell carcinoma. Br J Cancer 2022; 127:462-473. [PMID: 35449452 PMCID: PMC9346109 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-01808-4] [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: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serum starvation and hypoxia (SSH) mimics a stress condition in tumours. We have shown that intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) protein is synergistically expressed in ovarian clear cell carcinoma (CCC) cells under SSH in response to an insufficient supply of fatty acids (FAs). This ICAM-1 expression is responsible for resistance against the lethal condition, thereby promoting tumour growth. However, the underlying mechanisms that link SSH-driven ICAM1 gene expression to impaired FA supply and its clinical relevance are unclear. METHODS The underlying mechanisms of how FA deficiency induces ICAM-1 expression in cooperation with hypoxia were analysed in vitro and in vivo. Clinical significance of CCC cell-derived ICAM-1 and the mechanism associated with the transcriptional synergism were also investigated. RESULTS ICAM-1 expression was mediated through lipophagy-driven lipid droplet degradation, followed by impaired FA-lipid droplet flow. Lipophagy induced ICAM1 expression through stabilisation of NFκB binding to the promoter region via Sam68 and hTERT. Analyses of clinical specimens revealed that expression of ICAM-1 and LC3B, an autophagy marker associated with lipophagy, significantly correlated with poor prognoses of CCC. CONCLUSIONS The lipophagy-ICAM-1 pathway induced under a tumour-like stress conditions contributes to CCC progression and is a potential therapeutic target for this aggressive cancer type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiro Koizume
- Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan. .,Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Cancer Center Hospital, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan.
| | - Tomoko Takahashi
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Yoshiyasu Nakamura
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Mitsuyo Yoshihara
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Yukihide Ota
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan ,grid.268441.d0000 0001 1033 6139Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Molecular Reproductive Science, Yokohama City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004 Japan
| | - Shinya Sato
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan ,grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Cancer Center Hospital, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Hiroko Tadokoro
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Yokose
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Cancer Center Hospital, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Hisamori Kato
- grid.414944.80000 0004 0629 2905Department of Gynecology, Kanagawa Cancer Center Hospital, Yokohama, 241-8515 Japan
| | - Etsuko Miyagi
- grid.268441.d0000 0001 1033 6139Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Molecular Reproductive Science, Yokohama City University, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, 236-0004 Japan
| | - Yohei Miyagi
- Molecular Pathology and Genetics Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan. .,Department of Pathology, Kanagawa Cancer Center Hospital, Yokohama, 241-8515, Japan.
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8
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Seo SH, Shin JH, Ham DW, Shin EH. PTEN/AKT signaling pathway related to hTERT downregulation and telomere shortening induced in Toxoplasma GRA16-expressing colorectal cancer cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 153:113366. [PMID: 35810694 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated whether the molecular mechanism of granule protein 16 (GRA16), a dense granule protein of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) that induces cancer cell apoptosis, results in telomere shortening in cancer cells. The molecular mechanism of GRA16 responsible for regulating telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) activity and telomere shortening was investigated using GRA16-transferred HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells (GRA16-stable cells). GRA16 directly decreased hTERT expression by downregulating the expression and phosphorylation of hTERT transcriptional factors accompanied by decreased expression of shelterin complex molecules. Moreover, GRA16 resulted in cancer cell death through reduction of telomerase activity which leads to telomere shortening (decreased relative ratio of telomeric repeat-amplified sequence to that of a single-copy gene) (T/S ratio)), and at the same time gamma-H2A histone family member X (γ-H2A.X) stained nucleus was increased in the cells. The molecular mechanism between GRA16 and hTERT inactivation was revealed using inhibitors for phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) as well as siRNAs against PTEN and PP2A. hTERT dephosphorylation was induced effectively by the signaling pathway of HAUSP/PTEN/p-AKT(S473) but not by PP2A-B55/p-AKT(T308). Inhibition of the PTEN signaling pathway increased mRNA expressions in hTERT transcriptional factors, cell cycle activating factors, and apoptosis-inhibiting factors. When HCT116 cells were infected with T. gondii, the number of γ-H2A.X-stained nuclei also increased and p-hTERT/hTERT decreased as in GRA16-stable cells. Altogether, our results emphasize that GRA16 is a novel promising telomerase inhibitor that causes telomere shortening through telomerase inactivation by inducing the activation of the tumor suppressor PTEN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Hwan Seo
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hun Shin
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Won Ham
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Hee Shin
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Hirata M, Fujita K, Fujihara S, Mizuo T, Nakabayashi R, Kono T, Namima D, Fujita N, Yamana H, Kamada H, Tani J, Kobara H, Tsutsui K, Matsuda Y, Ono M, Masaki T. Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Promoter Mutations in Human Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Cancer Cell Lines. In Vivo 2022; 36:94-102. [PMID: 34972704 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.12680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM The promoter region of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene is a regulatory element capable of affecting TERT expression, telomerase activity, and telomerase length. Mutations within the TERT promoter region are the most common mutations in many cancers. In this study, we characterized the TERT promoter mutation status in hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and gastrointestinal cancer cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS TERT promoter mutation status was assessed by digital PCR in 12 liver cancer, 5 cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), 12 pancreatic cancer, 17 gastrointestinal cancer, and 3 healthy control cell lines. RESULTS The C228T promoter mutation was detected in 9 liver cancer lines, and the C250T TERT mutation was detected in 1 oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma line. CONCLUSION The C228T promoter mutation is specific to liver cancer cell lines among various gastrointestinal cancer cell lines. These data will contribute to future research on the tumorigenic mechanisms and clinical use of digital PCR to detect mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Hirata
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Koji Fujita
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Shintaro Fujihara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Takaaki Mizuo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Ryota Nakabayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Kono
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Daisuke Namima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Naoki Fujita
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yamana
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Hideki Kamada
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Joji Tani
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Hideki Kobara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Tsutsui
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Yoko Matsuda
- Department of Pathology and Host-Defense, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Masafumi Ono
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Masaki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan;
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10
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Davis JA, Chakrabarti K. Telomerase ribonucleoprotein and genome integrity-An emerging connection in protozoan parasites. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2021; 13:e1710. [PMID: 34973045 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Telomerase has an established role in telomere maintenance in eukaryotes. However, recent studies have begun to implicate telomerase in cellular roles beyond telomere maintenance. Specifically, evidence is emerging of cross-talks between telomerase mediated telomere homeostasis and DNA repair pathways. Telomere shortening due to the end replication problem is a constant threat to genome integrity in eukaryotic cells. This poses a particular problem in unicellular parasitic protists because their major virulence genes are located at the subtelomeric loci. Although telomerase is the major regulator of telomere lengthening in eukaryotes, it is less studied in the ancient eukaryotes, including clinically important human pathogens. Recent research is highlighting interplay between telomerase and the DNA damage response in human parasites. The importance of this interplay in pathogen virulence is only beginning to be illuminated, including the potential to highlight novel developmental regulation of telomerase in parasites who transition between multiple developmental stages throughout their life cycle. In this review, we will discuss the telomerase ribonucleoprotein enzyme and DNA repair pathways with emerging views in human parasites to give a broader perspective of the possible connection of telomere, telomerase, and DNA repair pathways across eukaryotic lineages and highlight their potential role in pathogen virulence. This article is categorized under: RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems RNA Evolution and Genomics > RNA and Ribonucleoprotein Evolution RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kausik Chakrabarti
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
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11
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Zhang Z, Han Z, Guo Y, Liu X, Gao Y, Zhang Y. Establishment of an Efficient Immortalization Strategy Using HMEJ-Based b TERT Insertion for Bovine Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212540. [PMID: 34830422 PMCID: PMC8622252 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Immortalized cell lines have been used in a wide range of applications in research on immune disorders and cellular metabolic regulation due to the stability and uniformity of their cellular characteristics. At present, the investigation into molecular functions and signaling pathways within bovine cells remains largely limited by the lack of immortalized model cells. Current methods for immortalizing bovine cells are mainly restricted to the ectopic expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) through transient transfection or virus-mediated delivery, which have defects in efficiency and reliability. In this study, we identified bovine TERT (bTERT) as a novel potent biofactor for immortalizing bovine cells with great advantages over hTERT, and established an efficient and easily manipulated strategy for the immortalization of bovine primary cells. Through the homology-mediated end-joining-based insertion of bTERT at the ROSA26 locus, we successfully generated immortalized bovine fetal fibroblast cell lines with stable characteristics. The observed limitation of this strategy in immortalizing bovine bone marrow-derived macrophages was attributed to the post-translational modification of bTERT, causing inhibited nuclear localization and depressed activity of bTERT in this terminally differentiated cell. In summary, we constructed an innovative method to achieve the high-quality immortalization of bovine primary cells, thereby expanding the prospects for the future application of immortalized bovine model cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.G.); (X.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Zhuo Han
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.G.); (X.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Ying Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.G.); (X.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Xin Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.G.); (X.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Yuanpeng Gao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.G.); (X.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
- Correspondence: (Y.G.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.G.); (X.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
- Correspondence: (Y.G.); (Y.Z.)
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12
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Zhang G, Zhang C, Leng D, Yan P, Wang Z, Zhang M, Wu Z. The non-canonical functions of telomerase reverse transcriptase gene GlTert on regulating fungal growth, oxidative stress, and ganoderic acid biosynthesis in Ganoderma lucidum. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:7353-7365. [PMID: 34515845 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11564-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is the core catalytic subunit of telomerase. Its canonical function is synthesizing telomeric repeats to maintain telomere length and chromosomal stability. Accumulating evidence suggests that TERT has other important fundamental functions in addition to its catalytic telomere repeat synthesis activity. However, the non-canonical roles of TERT independent of its enzymatic activity are not clear in filamentous fungi. In the present study, we characterized the GlTert gene in Ganoderma lucidum. The non-canonical roles of GlTert were explored using GlTert-silenced strains (Terti8 and Terti25) obtained by RNA interference. Silencing GlTert delayed the fungal growth, decreased the length between hyphal branches, and induced fungal resistance to oxidative stress in G. ludicum. Further examination revealed that the intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) levels were increased while the enzyme activities of the antioxidant systems (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase) were decreased in GlTert-silenced strains. In addition, silencing GlTert decreased the ganoderic acid (GA) biosynthesis of G. lucidum. Taken together, our results indicate that GlTert plays a fundamental function on fungal growth, oxidative stress, and GA biosynthesis in G. lucidum, providing new insights for the canonical functions of TERT in filamentous fungi. KEY POINTS: • GlTert affected fungal growth and hyphal branching of G. lucidum. • Silencing GlTert increased the intracellular ROS levels of G. lucidum. • GlTert regulated GA biosynthesis of G. lucidum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang Zhang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, Xinxiang, People's Republic of China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding of Henan Province, Xinxiang, 453003, Xinxiang, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chaohui Zhang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, Xinxiang, People's Republic of China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding of Henan Province, Xinxiang, 453003, Xinxiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Doudou Leng
- College of Life Science and Technology, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, Xinxiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Yan
- College of Life Science and Technology, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, Xinxiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenhe Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, Xinxiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingxia Zhang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, Xinxiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongwei Wu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, Xinxiang, People's Republic of China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Biological Breeding of Henan Province, Xinxiang, 453003, Xinxiang, People's Republic of China
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13
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Mechanism of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase ( hTERT) Regulation and Clinical Impacts in Leukemia. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12081188. [PMID: 34440361 PMCID: PMC8392866 DOI: 10.3390/genes12081188] [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: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The proliferative capacity and continuous survival of cells are highly dependent on telomerase expression and the maintenance of telomere length. For this reason, elevated expression of telomerase has been identified in virtually all cancers, including leukemias; however, it should be noted that expression of telomerase is sometimes observed later in malignant development. This time point of activation is highly dependent on the type of leukemia and its causative factors. Many recent studies in this field have contributed to the elucidation of the mechanisms by which the various forms of leukemias increase telomerase activity. These include the dysregulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) at various levels which include transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational stages. The pathways and biological molecules involved in these processes are also being deciphered with the advent of enabling technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA-Seq), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS), and many others. It has also been established that TERT possess diagnostic value as most adult cells do not express high levels of telomerase. Indeed, studies have shown that prognosis is not favorable in patients who have leukemias expressing high levels of telomerase. Recent research has indicated that targeting of this gene is able to control the survival of malignant cells and therefore offers a potential treatment for TERT-dependent leukemias. Here we review the mechanisms of hTERT regulation and deliberate their association in malignant states of leukemic cells. Further, we also cover the clinical implications of this gene including its use in diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic discoveries.
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14
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Plyasova AA, Zhdanov DD. Alternative Splicing of Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT) and Its Implications in Physiological and Pathological Processes. Biomedicines 2021; 9:526. [PMID: 34065134 PMCID: PMC8150890 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9050526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) of human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT, human telomerase reverse transcriptase) pre-mRNA strongly regulates telomerase activity. Several proteins can regulate AS in a cell type-specific manner and determine the functions of cells. In addition to being involved in telomerase activity regulation, AS provides cells with different splice variants that may have alternative biological activities. The modulation of telomerase activity through the induction of hTERT AS is involved in the development of different cancer types and embryos, and the differentiation of stem cells. Regulatory T cells may suppress the proliferation of target human and murine T and B lymphocytes and NK cells in a contact-independent manner involving activation of TERT AS. This review focuses on the mechanism of regulation of hTERT pre-mRNA AS and the involvement of splice variants in physiological and pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dmitry D. Zhdanov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya st 10/8, 119121 Moscow, Russia;
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15
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Subasri M, Shooshtari P, Watson AJ, Betts DH. Analysis of TERT Isoforms across TCGA, GTEx and CCLE Datasets. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081853. [PMID: 33924498 PMCID: PMC8070023 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081853] [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: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactivation of the multi-subunit ribonucleoprotein telomerase is the primary telomere maintenance mechanism in cancer, but it is rate-limited by the enzymatic component, telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). While regulatory in nature, TERT alternative splice variant/isoform regulation and functions are not fully elucidated and are further complicated by their highly diverse expression and nature. Our primary objective was to characterize TERT isoform expression across 7887 neoplastic and 2099 normal tissue samples using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx), respectively. We confirmed the global overexpression and splicing shift towards full-length TERT in neoplastic tissue. Stratifying by tissue type we found uncharacteristic TERT expression in normal brain tissue subtypes. Stratifying by tumor-specific subtypes, we detailed TERT expression differences potentially regulated by subtype-specific molecular characteristics. Focusing on β-deletion splicing regulation, we found the NOVA1 trans-acting factor to mediate alternative splicing in a cancer-dependent manner. Of relevance to future tissue-specific studies, we clustered cancer cell lines with tumors from related origin based on TERT isoform expression patterns. Taken together, our work has reinforced the need for tissue and tumour-specific TERT investigations, provided avenues to do so, and brought to light the current technical limitations of bioinformatic analyses of TERT isoform expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathushan Subasri
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (M.S.); (A.J.W.)
| | - Parisa Shooshtari
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada;
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- The Children’s Health Research Institute—Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada
| | - Andrew J. Watson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (M.S.); (A.J.W.)
- The Children’s Health Research Institute—Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Dean H. Betts
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (M.S.); (A.J.W.)
- The Children’s Health Research Institute—Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-519-661-2111 (ext. 83786)
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16
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Dratwa M, Wysoczańska B, Łacina P, Kubik T, Bogunia-Kubik K. TERT-Regulation and Roles in Cancer Formation. Front Immunol 2020; 11:589929. [PMID: 33329574 PMCID: PMC7717964 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.589929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is a catalytic subunit of telomerase. Telomerase complex plays a key role in cancer formation by telomere dependent or independent mechanisms. Telomere maintenance mechanisms include complex TERT changes such as gene amplifications, TERT structural variants, TERT promoter germline and somatic mutations, TERT epigenetic changes, and alternative lengthening of telomere. All of them are cancer specific at tissue histotype and at single cell level. TERT expression is regulated in tumors via multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations which affect telomerase activity. Telomerase activity via TERT expression has an impact on telomere length and can be a useful marker in diagnosis and prognosis of various cancers and a new therapy approach. In this review we want to highlight the main roles of TERT in different mechanisms of cancer development and regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Dratwa
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Barbara Wysoczańska
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Łacina
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Kubik
- Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Electronics, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
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17
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Schrumpfová PP, Fajkus J. Composition and Function of Telomerase-A Polymerase Associated with the Origin of Eukaryotes. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10101425. [PMID: 33050064 PMCID: PMC7658794 DOI: 10.3390/biom10101425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The canonical DNA polymerases involved in the replication of the genome are unable to fully replicate the physical ends of linear chromosomes, called telomeres. Chromosomal termini thus become shortened in each cell cycle. The maintenance of telomeres requires telomerase—a specific RNA-dependent DNA polymerase enzyme complex that carries its own RNA template and adds telomeric repeats to the ends of chromosomes using a reverse transcription mechanism. Both core subunits of telomerase—its catalytic telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) subunit and telomerase RNA (TR) component—were identified in quick succession in Tetrahymena more than 30 years ago. Since then, both telomerase subunits have been described in various organisms including yeasts, mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. Despite the fact that telomerase activity in plants was described 25 years ago and the TERT subunit four years later, a genuine plant TR has only recently been identified by our group. In this review, we focus on the structure, composition and function of telomerases. In addition, we discuss the origin and phylogenetic divergence of this unique RNA-dependent DNA polymerase as a witness of early eukaryotic evolution. Specifically, we discuss the latest information regarding the recently discovered TR component in plants, its conservation and its structural features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Procházková Schrumpfová
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, CZ-61137 Brno, Czech Republic;
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500 Brno, Czech Republic
- Correspondence:
| | - Jiří Fajkus
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Proteomics, National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, CZ-61137 Brno, Czech Republic;
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-62500 Brno, Czech Republic
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
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18
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Dratwa M, Wysoczanska B, Turlej E, Anisiewicz A, Maciejewska M, Wietrzyk J, Bogunia-Kubik K. Heterogeneity of telomerase reverse transcriptase mutation and expression, telomerase activity and telomere length across human cancer cell lines cultured in vitro. Exp Cell Res 2020; 396:112298. [PMID: 32971118 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.112298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Promoter region of the telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (TERTp) constitutes a regulatory element capable to affect TERT expression (TE), telomerase activity (TA) and telomere length (TL). TERTp mutation status, TL, TA and TE were assessed in 27 in vitro cultured human cell lines, including 11 solid tumour, 13 haematological and 3 normal cell lines. C228T and C250T TERTp mutations were detected in 5 solid tumour and none of haematological cell lines (p = 0.0100). As compared to other solid tumour cell lines, those with the presence of somatic mutations were characterized by: shorter TL, lower TA and TE. Furthermore, cell lines carrying TERTp mutations showed a linear correlation between TE and TA (R = 0.9708, p = 0.0021). Moreover, haematological cell lines exhibited higher TE compared to solid tumour cell lines (p = 0.0007). TL and TA were correlated in both solid tumour (R = 0.4875, p = 0.0169) and haematological (R = 0.4719, p = 0.0095) cell lines. Our results based on the in vitro model suggest that oncogenic processes may differ between solid tumours and haematological malignancies with regard to their TERT gene regulation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Dratwa
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Barbara Wysoczanska
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Eliza Turlej
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Artur Anisiewicz
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Maciejewska
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Wietrzyk
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bogunia-Kubik
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunogenetics and Pharmacogenetics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.
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19
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Cangelosi D, Morini M, Zanardi N, Sementa AR, Muselli M, Conte M, Garaventa A, Pfeffer U, Bosco MC, Varesio L, Eva A. Hypoxia Predicts Poor Prognosis in Neuroblastoma Patients and Associates with Biological Mechanisms Involved in Telomerase Activation and Tumor Microenvironment Reprogramming. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2343. [PMID: 32825087 PMCID: PMC7563184 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12092343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The biological and clinical heterogeneity of neuroblastoma (NB) demands novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in order to drive the most appropriate treatment for each patient. Hypoxia is a condition of low-oxygen tension occurring in poorly vascularized tumor tissues. In this study, we aimed to assess the role of hypoxia in the pathogenesis of NB and at developing a new clinically relevant hypoxia-based predictor of outcome. We analyzed the gene expression profiles of 1882 untreated NB primary tumors collected at diagnosis and belonging to four existing data sets. Analyses took advantage of machine learning methods. We identified NB-hop, a seven-gene hypoxia biomarker, as a predictor of NB patient prognosis, which is able to discriminate between two populations of patients with unfavorable or favorable outcome on a molecular basis. NB-hop retained its prognostic value in a multivariate model adjusted for established risk factors and was able to additionally stratify clinically relevant groups of patients. Tumors with an unfavorable NB-hop expression showed a significant association with telomerase activation and a hypoxic, immunosuppressive, poorly differentiated, and apoptosis-resistant tumor microenvironment. NB-hop defines a new population of NB patients with hypoxic tumors and unfavorable prognosis and it represents a critical factor for the stratification and treatment of NB patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Cangelosi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (M.M.); (N.Z.); (L.V.); (A.E.)
| | - Martina Morini
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (M.M.); (N.Z.); (L.V.); (A.E.)
| | - Nicolò Zanardi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (M.M.); (N.Z.); (L.V.); (A.E.)
| | - Angela Rita Sementa
- Laboratory of Pathology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy;
| | - Marco Muselli
- Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering, Italian National Research Council, 16149 Genova, Italy;
| | - Massimo Conte
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (M.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Alberto Garaventa
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (M.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Ulrich Pfeffer
- Integrated Oncology Therapies Department, Molecular Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy;
| | - Maria Carla Bosco
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (M.M.); (N.Z.); (L.V.); (A.E.)
| | - Luigi Varesio
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (M.M.); (N.Z.); (L.V.); (A.E.)
| | - Alessandra Eva
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (M.M.); (N.Z.); (L.V.); (A.E.)
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Vahidi S, Norollahi SE, Agah S, Samadani AA. DNA Methylation Profiling of hTERT Gene Alongside with the Telomere Performance in Gastric Adenocarcinoma. J Gastrointest Cancer 2020; 51:788-799. [PMID: 32617831 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-020-00427-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Epigenetic modification including of DNA methylation, histone acetylation, histone methylation, histon phosphorylation and non-coding RNA can impress the gene expression and genomic stability and cause different types of malignancies and also main human disorder. Conspicuously, the epigenetic alteration special DNA methylation controls telomere length, telomerase activity and also function of different genes particularly hTERT expression. Telomeres are important in increasing the lifespan, health, aging, and the development and progression of some diseases like cancer. METHODS This review provides an assessment of the epigenetic alterations of telomeres, telomerase and repression of its catalytic subunit, hTERT and function of long non-coding RNAs such as telomeric-repeat containing RNA (TERRA) in carcinogenesis and tumorgenesis of gastric cancer. RESULTS hTERT expression is essential and indispensable in telomerase activation through immortality and malignancies and also plays an important role in maintaining telomere length. Telomeres and telomerase have been implicated in regulating epigenetic factors influencing certain gene expression. Correspondingly, these changes in the sub telomere and telomere regions are affected by the shortening of telomere length and increased telomerase activity and hTERT gene expression have been observed in many cancers, remarkably in gastric cancer. CONCLUSION Epigenetic alteration and regulation of hTERT gene expression are critical in controlling telomerase activity and its expression. Graphical Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sogand Vahidi
- Clinical Research Development Unit of Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Elham Norollahi
- Clinical Research Development Unit of Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
| | - Shahram Agah
- Colorectal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Samadani
- Healthy Ageing Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
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Farina AR, Cappabianca L, Sebastiano M, Zelli V, Guadagni S, Mackay AR. Hypoxia-induced alternative splicing: the 11th Hallmark of Cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2020; 39:110. [PMID: 32536347 PMCID: PMC7294618 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01616-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia-induced alternative splicing is a potent driving force in tumour pathogenesis and progression. In this review, we update currents concepts of hypoxia-induced alternative splicing and how it influences tumour biology. Following brief descriptions of tumour-associated hypoxia and the pre-mRNA splicing process, we review the many ways hypoxia regulates alternative splicing and how hypoxia-induced alternative splicing impacts each individual hallmark of cancer. Hypoxia-induced alternative splicing integrates chemical and cellular tumour microenvironments, underpins continuous adaptation of the tumour cellular microenvironment responsible for metastatic progression and plays clear roles in oncogene activation and autonomous tumour growth, tumor suppressor inactivation, tumour cell immortalization, angiogenesis, tumour cell evasion of programmed cell death and the anti-tumour immune response, a tumour-promoting inflammatory response, adaptive metabolic re-programming, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, invasion and genetic instability, all of which combine to promote metastatic disease. The impressive number of hypoxia-induced alternative spliced protein isoforms that characterize tumour progression, classifies hypoxia-induced alternative splicing as the 11th hallmark of cancer, and offers a fertile source of potential diagnostic/prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Rosella Farina
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Lucia Cappabianca
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Michela Sebastiano
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Veronica Zelli
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Stefano Guadagni
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Andrew Reay Mackay
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
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