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Hasselluhn MC, Schlösser D, Versemann L, Schmidt GE, Ulisse M, Oschwald J, Zhang Z, Hamdan F, Xiao H, Kopp W, Spitalieri J, Kellner C, Schneider C, Reutlinger K, Nagarajan S, Steuber B, Sastra SA, Palermo CF, Appelhans J, Bohnenberger H, Todorovic J, Kostyuchek I, Ströbel P, Bockelmann A, König A, Ammer-Herrmenau C, Schmidleitner L, Kaulfuß S, Wollnik B, Hahn SA, Neesse A, Singh SK, Bastians H, Reichert M, Sax U, Olive KP, Johnsen SA, Schneider G, Ellenrieder V, Hessmann E. An NFATc1/SMAD3/cJUN Complex Restricted to SMAD4-Deficient Pancreatic Cancer Guides Rational Therapies. Gastroenterology 2024; 166:298-312.e14. [PMID: 37913894 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The highly heterogeneous cellular and molecular makeup of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) not only fosters exceptionally aggressive tumor biology, but contradicts the current concept of one-size-fits-all therapeutic strategies to combat PDAC. Therefore, we aimed to exploit the tumor biological implication and therapeutic vulnerabilities of a clinically relevant molecular PDAC subgroup characterized by SMAD4 deficiency and high expression of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (SMAD4-/-/NFATc1High). METHODS Transcriptomic and clinical data were analyzed to determine the prognostic relevance of SMAD4-/-/NFATc1High cancers. In vitro and in vivo oncogenic transcription factor complex formation was studied by immunoprecipitation, proximity ligation assays, and validated cross model and species. The impact of SMAD4 status on therapeutically targeting canonical KRAS signaling was mechanistically deciphered and corroborated by genome-wide gene expression analysis and genetic perturbation experiments, respectively. Validation of a novel tailored therapeutic option was conducted in patient-derived organoids and cells and transgenic as well as orthotopic PDAC models. RESULTS Our findings determined the tumor biology of an aggressive and chemotherapy-resistant SMAD4-/-/NFATc1High subgroup. Mechanistically, we identify SMAD4 deficiency as a molecular prerequisite for the formation of an oncogenic NFATc1/SMAD3/cJUN transcription factor complex, which drives the expression of RRM1/2. RRM1/2 replenishes nucleoside pools that directly compete with metabolized gemcitabine for DNA strand incorporation. Disassembly of the NFATc1/SMAD3/cJUN complex by mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling inhibition normalizes RRM1/2 expression and synergizes with gemcitabine treatment in vivo to reduce the proliferative index. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that PDAC characterized by SMAD4 deficiency and oncogenic NFATc1/SMAD3/cJUN complex formation exposes sensitivity to a mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling inhibition and gemcitabine combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie C Hasselluhn
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Denise Schlösser
- 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
| | - Geske E Schmidt
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Maria Ulisse
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Joana Oschwald
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Feda Hamdan
- Gene Regulatory Mechanisms and Molecular Epigenetics Laboratory, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Harry Xiao
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Waltraut Kopp
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jessica Spitalieri
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Christin Kellner
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Carolin Schneider
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Kristina Reutlinger
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Sankari Nagarajan
- Manchester Breast Centre and Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Steuber
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Stephen A Sastra
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Carmine F Palermo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Jennifer Appelhans
- Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Hanibal Bohnenberger
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jovan Todorovic
- Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Irina Kostyuchek
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Aiko Bockelmann
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Alexander König
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Ammer-Herrmenau
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Laura Schmidleitner
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany; Translational Pancreatic Research Cancer Center, Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Silke Kaulfuß
- Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Bernd Wollnik
- Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells, University of Goettingen, Germany
| | - Stephan A Hahn
- Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Molecular Gastrointestinal Oncology, Bochum, Germany
| | - Albrecht Neesse
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Shiv K Singh
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Holger Bastians
- Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Department of Molecular Oncology, Section for Cellular Oncology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Maximilian Reichert
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany; Translational Pancreatic Research Cancer Center, Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (a partnership between Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum and University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der Isar), Munich, Germany; Center for Protein Assemblies, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany; Center for Organoid Systems and Tissue Engineering, Technical University Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Ulrich Sax
- Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Department of Medical Informatics, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Kenneth P Olive
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Steven A Johnsen
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Robert Bosch Center for Tumor Diseases, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Günter Schneider
- Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center, Lower Saxony, Goettingen and Hannover, Germany
| | - Volker Ellenrieder
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center, Lower Saxony, Goettingen and Hannover, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Hessmann
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center, Lower Saxony, Goettingen and Hannover, Germany.
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2
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Buchholz SM, Nause N, König U, Reinecke J, Steuber B, Ammer-Herrmenau C, Reuter-Jessen K, Bohnenberger H, Biggemann L, Braulke F, Neesse A, Ellenrieder V, Ströbel P, Adler M, König A. Time to Deliver on Promises: The Role of ERBB2 Alterations as Treatment Options for Colorectal Cancer Patients in the Era of Precision Oncology. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1701. [PMID: 38138928 PMCID: PMC10745079 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13121701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinase erythroblastic oncogene B2 (ERBB2), also known as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), represents an oncogenic driver and has been effectively targeted in breast and gastric cancer. Recently, next-generation sequencing (NGS) discovered ERBB2 as a promising therapeutic target in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), where it is altered in 3-5% of patients, but no therapies are currently approved for this use. Herein, we present the experience of a single center in diagnosing actionable genetic ERBB2 alterations using NGS and utilizing the latest therapeutic options. Between October 2019 and December 2022, a total of 107 patients with advanced CRC underwent molecular analysis, revealing actionable ERBB2 mutations in two patients and ERBB2 amplifications in two other patients. These findings correlated with immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Of these four patients, two were treated with trastuzumab-deruxtecan (T-DXd). We present two exemplary cases of patients with actionable ERBB2 alterations to demonstrate the effectiveness of T-DXd in heavily pretreated ERBB2-positive mCRC patients and the need for early molecular profiling. To fully exploit the potential of this promising treatment, earlier molecular profiling and the initiation of targeted therapies are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soeren M. Buchholz
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nelia Nause
- Göttingen Comprehensive Cancer Center (G-CCC), University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ute König
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Johanna Reinecke
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Steuber
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Ammer-Herrmenau
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kirsten Reuter-Jessen
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hanibal Bohnenberger
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lorenz Biggemann
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Friederike Braulke
- Göttingen Comprehensive Cancer Center (G-CCC), University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Albrecht Neesse
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Volker Ellenrieder
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marius Adler
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Alexander König
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
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3
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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5
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Chen NM, Neesse A, Dyck ML, Steuber B, Koenig AO, Lubeseder-Martellato C, Winter T, Forster T, Bohnenberger H, Kitz J, Reuter-Jessen K, Griesmann H, Gaedcke J, Grade M, Zhang JS, Tsai WC, Siveke J, Schildhaus HU, Ströbel P, Johnsen SA, Ellenrieder V, Hessmann E. Context-Dependent Epigenetic Regulation of Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells 1 in Pancreatic Plasticity. Gastroenterology 2017; 152:1507-1520.e15. [PMID: 28188746 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.01.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The ability of exocrine pancreatic cells to change the cellular phenotype is required for tissue regeneration upon injury, but also contributes to their malignant transformation and tumor progression. We investigated context-dependent signaling and transcription mechanisms that determine pancreatic cell fate decisions toward regeneration and malignancy. In particular, we studied the function and regulation of the inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATC1) in pancreatic cell plasticity and tissue adaptation. METHODS We analyzed cell plasticity during pancreatic regeneration and transformation in mice with pancreas-specific expression of a constitutively active form of NFATC1, or depletion of enhancer of zeste 2 homologue 2 (EZH2), in the context of wild-type or constitutively activate Kras, respectively. Acute and chronic pancreatitis were induced by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein. EZH2-dependent regulation of NFATC1 expression was studied in mouse in human pancreatic tissue and cells by immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. We used genetic and pharmacologic approaches of EZH2 and NFATC1 inhibition to study the consequences of pathway disruption on pancreatic morphology and function. Epigenetic modifications on the NFATC1 gene were investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. RESULTS NFATC1 was rapidly and transiently induced in early adaptation to acinar cell injury in human samples and in mice, where it promoted acinar cell transdifferentiation and blocked proliferation of metaplastic pancreatic cells. However, in late stages of regeneration, Nfatc1 was epigenetically silenced by EZH2-dependent histone methylation, to enable acinar cell redifferentiation and prevent organ atrophy and exocrine insufficiency. In contrast, oncogenic activation of KRAS signaling in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells reversed the EZH2-dependent effects on the NFATC1 gene and was required for EZH2-mediated transcriptional activation of NFATC1. CONCLUSIONS In studies of human and mouse pancreatic cells and tissue, we identified context-specific epigenetic regulation of NFATc1 activity as an important mechanism of pancreatic cell plasticity. Inhibitors of EZH2 might therefore interfere with oncogenic activity of NFATC1 and be used in treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nai-Ming Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Albrecht Neesse
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Moritz Lino Dyck
- Signaling and Transcription Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, Philipp's University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Steuber
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexander O Koenig
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Clara Lubeseder-Martellato
- II. Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Thore Winter
- Signaling and Transcription Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, Philipp's University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Teresa Forster
- Signaling and Transcription Laboratory, Department of Gastroenterology, Philipp's University, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Julia Kitz
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Heidi Griesmann
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Medical Center Halle, Germany
| | - Jochen Gaedcke
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marian Grade
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jin-San Zhang
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Wan-Chi Tsai
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jens Siveke
- German Cancer Consortium and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Steven A Johnsen
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Volker Ellenrieder
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Hessmann
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany.
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