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Michaelsen GL, da Silva LDRE, de Lima DS, Jaeger MDC, Brunetto AT, Dalmolin RJS, Sinigaglia M. A Prognostic Methylation-Driven Two-Gene Signature in Medulloblastoma. J Mol Neurosci 2024; 74:47. [PMID: 38662144 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-024-02203-9] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most common pediatric brain tumors and it is estimated that one-third of patients will not achieve long-term survival. Conventional prognostic parameters have limited and unreliable correlations with MB outcome, presenting a major challenge for patients' clinical improvement. Acknowledging this issue, our aim was to build a gene signature and evaluate its potential as a new prognostic model for patients with the disease. In this study, we used six datasets totaling 1679 samples including RNA gene expression and DNA methylation data from primary MB as well as control samples from healthy cerebellum. We identified methylation-driven genes (MDGs) in MB, genes whose expression is correlated with their methylation. We employed LASSO regression, incorporating the MDGs as a parameter to develop the prognostic model. Through this approach, we derived a two-gene signature (GS-2) of candidate prognostic biomarkers for MB (CEMIP and NCBP3). Using a risk score model, we confirmed the GS-2 impact on overall survival (OS) with Kaplan-Meier analysis. We evaluated its robustness and accuracy with receiver operating characteristic curves predicting OS at 1, 3, and 5 years in multiple independent datasets. The GS-2 showed highly significant results as an independent prognostic biomarker compared to traditional MB markers. The methylation-regulated GS-2 risk score model can effectively classify patients with MB into high and low-risk, reinforcing the importance of this epigenetic modification in the disease. Such genes stand out as promising prognostic biomarkers with potential application for MB treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Lovatto Michaelsen
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, 90620-110, RS, Brazil
- Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment-BioME, Digital Metropole Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, 59076-550, RN, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, 90035-003, RS, Brazil
| | - Lívia Dos Reis Edinger da Silva
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, 90620-110, RS, Brazil
- Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, 90050-170, RS, Brazil
| | - Douglas Silva de Lima
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, 90620-110, RS, Brazil
- Institute of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, 90035-003, RS, Brazil
| | - Mariane da Cunha Jaeger
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, 90620-110, RS, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, 90035-003, RS, Brazil
| | - André Tesainer Brunetto
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, 90620-110, RS, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, 90035-003, RS, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Juliani Siqueira Dalmolin
- Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment-BioME, Digital Metropole Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, 59076-550, RN, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, 59064-741, RN, Brazil
| | - Marialva Sinigaglia
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, 90620-110, RS, Brazil.
- Bioinformatics Multidisciplinary Environment-BioME, Digital Metropole Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, 59076-550, RN, Brazil.
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, 90035-003, RS, Brazil.
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2
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Laschuk Herlinger A, Lovatto Michaelsen G, Sinigaglia M, Fratini L, Nogueira Debom G, Braganhol E, Brunetto de Farias C, Lunardi Brunetto A, Tesainer Brunetto A, da Cunha Jaeger M, Roesler R. Modulation of Viability, Proliferation, and Stemness by Rosmarinic Acid in Medulloblastoma Cells: Involvement of HDACs and EGFR. Neuromolecular Med 2023; 25:573-585. [PMID: 37740824 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-023-08758-x] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is a heterogeneous group of malignant pediatric brain tumors, divided into molecular groups with distinct biological features and prognoses. Currently available therapy often results in poor long-term quality of life for patients, which will be afflicted by neurological, neuropsychiatric, and emotional sequelae. Identifying novel therapeutic agents capable of targeting the tumors without jeopardizing patients' quality of life is imperative. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a plant-derived compound whose action against a series of diseases including cancer has been investigated, with no side effects reported so far. Previous studies have not examined whether RA has effects in MB. Here, we show RA is cytotoxic against human Daoy (IC50 = 168 μM) and D283 (IC50 = 334 μM) MB cells. Exposure to RA for 48 h reduced histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) expression while increasing H3K9 hyperacetylation, reduced epidermal growth factor (EGFR) expression, and inhibited EGFR downstream targets extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and AKT in Daoy cells. These modifications were accompanied by increased expression of CDKN1A/p21, reduced expression of SOX2, and a decrease in proliferative rate. Treatment with RA also reduced cancer stem cell markers expression and neurosphere size. Taken together, our findings indicate that RA can reduce cell proliferation and stemness and induce cell cycle arrest in MB cells. Mechanisms mediating these effects may include targeting HDAC1, EGFR, and ERK signaling, and promoting p21 expression, possibly through an increase in H3K9ac and AKT deactivation. RA should be further investigated as a potential anticancer agent in experimental MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Laschuk Herlinger
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Gustavo Lovatto Michaelsen
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, Digital Metropolis Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 59078-400, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Marialva Sinigaglia
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, Digital Metropolis Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, 59078-400, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Lívia Fratini
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Nogueira Debom
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Elizandra Braganhol
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil
| | - Caroline Brunetto de Farias
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Algemir Lunardi Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - André Tesainer Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Mariane da Cunha Jaeger
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Rafael Roesler
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
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3
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Silveira DA, Gupta S, da Cunha Jaeger M, Brunetto de Farias C, Mombach JCM, Sinigaglia M. A logical model of Ewing sarcoma cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition supports the existence of hybrid cellular phenotypes. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:2446-2460. [PMID: 37597508 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14724] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a highly aggressive pediatric tumor driven by the RNA-binding protein EWS (EWS)/friend leukemia integration 1 transcription factor (FLI1) chimeric transcription factor, which is involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT stabilizes a hybrid cell state, boosting metastatic potential and drug resistance. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of this hybrid phenotype in ES remain elusive. Our study proposes a logical EMT model for ES, highlighting zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2), miR-145, and miR-200 circuits that maintain hybrid states. The model aligns with experimental findings and reveals a previously unknown circuit supporting the mesenchymal phenotype. These insights emphasize the role of ZEB2 in the maintenance of the hybrid state in ES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daner A Silveira
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Mariane da Cunha Jaeger
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Caroline Brunetto de Farias
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Marialva Sinigaglia
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- National Science and Technology Institute for Children's Cancer Biology and Pediatric Oncology - INCT BioOncoPed, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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4
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Freire NH, Jaeger MDC, de Farias CB, Nör C, Souza BK, Gregianin L, Brunetto AT, Roesler R. Targeting the epigenome of cancer stem cells in pediatric nervous system tumors. Mol Cell Biochem 2023; 478:2241-2255. [PMID: 36637615 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04655-2] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, and pediatric glioma account for almost 30% of all cases of pediatric cancers. Recent evidence indicates that pediatric nervous system tumors originate from stem or progenitor cells and present a subpopulation of cells with highly tumorigenic and stem cell-like features. These cancer stem cells play a role in initiation, progression, and resistance to treatment of pediatric nervous system tumors. Histone modification, DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, and microRNA regulation display a range of regulatory activities involved in cancer origin and progression, and cellular identity, especially those associated with stem cell features, such as self-renewal and pluripotent differentiation potential. Here, we review the contribution of different epigenetic mechanisms in pediatric nervous system tumor cancer stem cells. The choice between a differentiated and undifferentiated state can be modulated by alterations in the epigenome through the regulation of stemness genes such as CD133, SOX2, and BMI1 and the activation neuronal of differentiation markers, RBFOX3, GFAP, and S100B. Additionally, we highlighted the stage of development of epigenetic drugs and the clinical benefits and efficacy of epigenetic modulators in pediatric nervous system tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Hogetop Freire
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center of Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 (Setor IV - Campus do Vale), Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil.
| | - Mariane da Cunha Jaeger
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Caroline Brunetto de Farias
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Carolina Nör
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Lauro Gregianin
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Pediatric Oncology Service, Clinical Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - André Tesainer Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Rafael Roesler
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center of Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 (Setor IV - Campus do Vale), Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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5
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Fratini L, Dalmolin MGS, Sinigaglia M, da Silveira Perla A, de Farias CB, Brunetto AL, Brunetto AT, da Cunha Jaeger M, Roesler R. ZEB1 is a Subgroup-Specific Marker of Prognosis and Potential Drug Target in Medulloblastoma. Neuromolecular Med 2023; 25:64-74. [PMID: 35716340 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-022-08716-z] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is a malignant brain tumor that afflicts mostly children and adolescents and presents four distinct molecular subgroups, known as WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4. ZEB1 is a transcription factor that promotes the expression of mesenchymal markers while restraining expression of epithelial and polarity genes. Because of ZEB1 involvement in cerebellum development, here we investigated the role of ZEB1 in MB. We found increased expression of ZEB1 in MB tumor samples compared to normal cerebellar tissue. Expression was higher in the SHH subgroup when compared to all other MB molecular subgroups. High ZEB1 expression was associated with poor prognosis in Group 3 and Group 4, whereas in patients with WNT tumors poorer prognosis were related to lower ZEB1 expression. There was a moderate correlation between ZEB1 and MYC expression in Group 3 and Group 4 MB. Treatment with the immunomodulator and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor fingolimod (FTY720) reduced ZEB1 expression specifically in D283 cells, which are representative of Group 3 and Group 4 MB. These findings reveal novel subgroup-specific associations of ZEB1 expression with survival in patients with MB and suggest that ZEB1 expression can be reduced by pharmacological agents that target HDAC activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Fratini
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center of Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil.
| | - Matheus Gibeke Siqueira Dalmolin
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Marialva Sinigaglia
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Alexandre da Silveira Perla
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil
- Neurology Service, São José Hospital, Santa Casa de Misericórdia Porto Alegre Hospital Complex, Porto Alegre, RS, 90020-090, Brazil
| | - Caroline Brunetto de Farias
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Algemir L Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - André T Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Mariane da Cunha Jaeger
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, 90620-110, Brazil
| | - Rafael Roesler
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center of Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil.
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6
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Dos Santos RP, Gregianin L, T Brunetto A, da Cunha Jaeger M, Lunardi Brunetto A, Brunetto de Farias C, Roesler R. Cancer stem cells and chemoresistance in Ewing sarcoma. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2022:CSCR-EPUB-124800. [PMID: 35761483 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x17666220627114710] [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: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Resistance to chemotherapy poses a major challenge for cancer treatment. Reactivation of a stem cell program resembling that seen in embryonic development can lead cancer cells to acquire a stem-cell phenotype characterized by expression of stemness genes, pluripotency, high self-renewal ability, and tumor-initiating capability. These cancer stem cells (CSCs) are usually resistant to anticancer drugs and are likely involved in treatment failure in many cancer types. Ewing sarcoma (ES), a pediatric cancer type typically arising by a typical genetic alteration that can affect either bone or soft tissues. Despite advances in treatment, survival prognostic remains poor for patients with refractory or recurrent disease. Here, we review the increasing evidence indicating that ES tumors contain a CSC subpopulation expressing stem cell genes including BM1, OCT3/4, NANOG, and SOX2 that plays a role in resistance to drug treatment, and current experimental strategies that successfully counteract chemoresistance mediated by CSCs in ES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Pereira Dos Santos
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Lauro Gregianin
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Pediatric Oncology Service, Clinical Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - André T Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Mariane da Cunha Jaeger
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Algemir Lunardi Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Caroline Brunetto de Farias
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Rafael Roesler
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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7
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Rosset C, Jaeger MDC, Filippi-Chiela E, Reis LB, Sartor ITS, Oliveira Netto CB, Farias CBD, Roesler R, Ashton-Prolla P. Primary cells derived from Tuberous Sclerosis Complex patients show autophagy alteration in the haploinsufficiency state. Genet Mol Biol 2021; 44:e20200475. [PMID: 34609442 PMCID: PMC8515215 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2020-0475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant cancer predisposition disorder caused by heterozygous mutations in TSC1 or TSC2 genes and characterized by mTORC1 hyperactivation. TSC-associated tumors develop after loss of heterozygosity mutations and their treatment involves the use of mTORC1 inhibitors. We aimed to evaluate cellular processes regulated by mTORC1 in TSC cells with different mutations before tumor development. Flow cytometry analyses were performed to evaluate cell viability, cell cycle and autophagy in non-tumor primary TSC cells with different heterozygous mutations and in control cells without TSC mutations, before and after treatment with rapamycin (mTORC1 inhibitor). We did not observe differences in cell viability and cell cycle between the cell groups. However, autophagy was reduced in mutated cells. After rapamycin treatment, mutated cells showed a significant increase in the autophagy process (p=0.039). We did not observe differences between cells with distinct TSC mutations. Our main finding is the alteration of autophagy in non-tumor TSC cells. Previous studies in literature found autophagy alterations in tumor TSC cells or knock-out animal models. We showed that autophagy could be an important mechanism that leads to TSC tumor formation in the haploinsufficiency state. This result could guide future studies in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clévia Rosset
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Laboratório de Medicina Genômica, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Programa de pós-graduação em genética e biologia molecular, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Mariane da Cunha Jaeger
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Laboratório de Câncer e Neurobiologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Instituto do Câncer Infantil (ICI), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Filippi-Chiela
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Faculdade de Medicina (Famed), Programa de pós-graduação em gastroenterologia e hepatologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Larissa Brussa Reis
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Laboratório de Medicina Genômica, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Programa de pós-graduação em genética e biologia molecular, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ivaine Taís Sauthier Sartor
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Laboratório de Medicina Genômica, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Programa de pós-graduação em genética e biologia molecular, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Caroline Brunetto de Farias
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Laboratório de Câncer e Neurobiologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Instituto do Câncer Infantil (ICI), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Rafael Roesler
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Laboratório de Câncer e Neurobiologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde (ICBS), Departamento de Farmacologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Patricia Ashton-Prolla
- Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Laboratório de Medicina Genômica, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Programa de pós-graduação em genética e biologia molecular, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Serviço de Genética Médica, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Departamento de Genética, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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8
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Perla AS, Fratini L, Cardoso PS, de Farias CB, da Cunha Jaeger M, Roesler R. Fingolimod (FTY720) reduces viability and survival and increases histone H3 acetylation in medulloblastoma cells. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2020; 37:170-175. [PMID: 31826690 DOI: 10.1080/08880018.2019.1699213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) are epigenetic agents that display antitumor activities in experimental medulloblastoma (MB). Fingolimod (FTY720), an immunosuppressant agent currently used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, also has anticancer actions and can act as an HDACi. Here we examined whether fingolimod can inhibit human MB cell viability and survival, and if the effects are accompanied by increased histone acetylation. D283 and DAOY MB cells were treated with different doses of fingolimod. Cell viability was assessed by cell counting in a hemocytometer, and cell survival was analyzed with a colony formation assay. Histone H3 acetylation was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fingolimod at 7.5 or 10 μM, but not at 5 μM, induced a significant reduction in cell viability in D283 and DAOY cultures, and similar results were observed for inhibition of cell survival. In both cell lines, fingolimod also led to a significant increase in the levels of acetylated H3. These findings provide preliminary evidence indicating that fingolimod induces antitumor activities in MB, possibly through a mechanism which increases H3 histone acetylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre S Perla
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lívia Fratini
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Paula S Cardoso
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Caroline Brunetto de Farias
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Mariane da Cunha Jaeger
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rafael Roesler
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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9
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da Cunha Jaeger M, Ghisleni EC, Cardoso PS, Siniglaglia M, Falcon T, Brunetto AT, Brunetto AL, de Farias CB, Taylor MD, Nör C, Ramaswamy V, Roesler R. HDAC and MAPK/ERK Inhibitors Cooperate To Reduce Viability and Stemness in Medulloblastoma. J Mol Neurosci 2020; 70:981-992. [PMID: 32056089 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-020-01505-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB), which originates from embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs) or neural precursors in the developing cerebellum, is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. Recurrent and metastatic disease is the principal cause of death and may be related to resistance within cancer stem cells (CSCs). Chromatin state is involved in maintaining signaling pathways related to stemness, and inhibition of histone deacetylase enzymes (HDAC) has emerged as an experimental therapeutic strategy to target this cell population. Here, we observed antitumor actions and changes in stemness induced by HDAC inhibition in MB. Analyses of tumor samples from patients with MB showed that the stemness markers BMI1 and CD133 are expressed in all molecular subgroups of MB. The HDAC inhibitor (HDACi) NaB reduced cell viability and expression of BMI1 and CD133 and increased acetylation in human MB cells. Enrichment analysis of genes associated with CD133 or BMI1 expression showed mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK signaling as the most enriched processes in MB tumors. MAPK/ERK inhibition reduced expression of the stemness markers, hindered MB neurosphere formation, and its antiproliferative effect was enhanced by combination with NaB. These results suggest that combining HDAC and MAPK/ERK inhibitors may be a novel and more effective approach in reducing MB proliferation when compared to single-drug treatments, through modulation of the stemness phenotype of MB cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariane da Cunha Jaeger
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Eduarda Chiesa Ghisleni
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Paula Schoproni Cardoso
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Marialva Siniglaglia
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Tiago Falcon
- Bioinformatics Core, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - André T Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Algemir L Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Caroline Brunetto de Farias
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Michael D Taylor
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carolina Nör
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vijay Ramaswamy
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rafael Roesler
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500 (ICBS, Campus Centro/UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, 90050-170, Brazil.
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10
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Thomaz A, Pinheiro KDV, Souza BK, Gregianin L, Brunetto AL, Brunetto AT, de Farias CB, Jaeger MDC, Ramaswamy V, Nör C, Taylor MD, Roesler R. Antitumor Activities and Cellular Changes Induced by TrkB Inhibition in Medulloblastoma. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:698. [PMID: 31297057 PMCID: PMC6606946 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophins are critically involved in regulating normal neural development and plasticity. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin that acts by binding to the tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) receptor, has also been implicated in the progression of several types of cancer. However, its role in medulloblastoma (MB), the most common type of malignant brain tumor afflicting children, remains unclear. Here we show that selective TrkB inhibition with the small molecule compound ANA-12 impaired proliferation and viability of human UW228 and D283 MB cells, and slowed the growth of MB tumors xenografted into nude mice. These effects were accompanied by increased apoptosis, reduced extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) activity, increased expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and differential modulation of p21 expression dependent on the cell line. In addition, MB cells treated with ANA-12 showed morphological alterations consistent with differentiation, increased levels of the neural differentiation marker β-III Tubulin (TUBB3), and reduced expression of the stemness marker Nestin. These findings are consistent with the possibility that selective TrkB inhibition can display consistent anticancer effects in MB, possibly by modulating intracellular signaling and gene expression related to tumor progression, apoptosis, and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Thomaz
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Kelly de Vargas Pinheiro
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Kunzler Souza
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lauro Gregianin
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Pediatric Oncology Service, Clinical Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Algemir L Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - André T Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Caroline Brunetto de Farias
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Mariane da Cunha Jaeger
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Vijay Ramaswamy
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carolina Nör
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael D Taylor
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rafael Roesler
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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11
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Centenaro LA, da Cunha Jaeger M, Ilha J, de Souza MA, Balbinot LF, do Nascimento PS, Marcuzzo S, Achaval M. Implications of olfactory lamina propria transplantation on hyperreflexia and myelinated fiber regeneration in rats with complete spinal cord transection. Neurochem Res 2012. [PMID: 23179588 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-012-0928-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Transplantation with olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) has been adopted after several models of spinal cord injury (SCI) with the purpose of creating a favorable environment for the re-growth of injured axons. However, a consensus on the efficacy of this cellular transplantation has yet to be reached. In order to explore alternative parameters that could demonstrate the possible restorative properties of such grafts, the present study investigated the effects of olfactory lamina propria (OLP) transplantation on hyperreflexia and myelinated fiber regeneration in adult rats with complete spinal cord transection. The efficacy of OLP (graft containing OECs) and respiratory lamina propria (RLP, graft without OECs) was tested at different post-injury times (acutely, 2- and 4-week delayed), to establish the optimum period for transplantation. In the therapeutic windows used, OLP and RLP grafts produced no considerable improvements in withdrawal reflex responses or on the low-frequency dependent depression of H-reflex. Both lamina propria grafts produced comparable results for the myelinated fiber density and for the estimated total number of myelinated fibers at the lesion site, indicating that the delayed transplantation approach does not seem to limit the regenerative effects. However, animals transplanted with OLP 2 or 4 weeks after injury exhibit smaller myelin sheath thickness and myelinated fiber area and diameter at the lesion site compared to their respective RLP groups. Despite the ongoing clinical use of OECs, it is important to emphasize the need for more experimental studies to clarify the exact nature of the repair capacity of these grafts in the treatment of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lígia Aline Centenaro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite 500, Porto Alegre, RS 90050-170, Brazil.
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12
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Centenaro LA, Jaeger MDC, Ilha J, de Souza MA, Kalil-Gaspar PI, Cunha NB, Marcuzzo S, Achaval M. Olfactory and respiratory lamina propria transplantation after spinal cord transection in rats: effects on functional recovery and axonal regeneration. Brain Res 2011; 1426:54-72. [PMID: 22041228 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2011.09.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2011] [Revised: 09/05/2011] [Accepted: 09/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) has very poor clinical prospects, resulting in irreversible loss of function below the injury site. Although applied in clinical trials, olfactory ensheathing cells transplantation (OEC) derived from lamina propria (OLP) is still a controversial repair strategy. The present study explored the efficacy of OLP or respiratory lamina propria (RLP) transplantation and the optimum period after SCI for application of this potential therapy. Adult male rats were submitted to spinal cord transection and underwent acute, 2-week or 4-week post-injury transplantation with pieces of OLP (containing OECs) or RLP (without OECs). After grafting, animals with OLP and RLP showed discrete and similar hindlimb motor improvement, with comparable spinal cord tissue sparing and sprouting in the lesion area. Acute transplantation of OLP and RLP seems to foster limited supraspinal axonal regeneration as shown by the presence of neurons stained by retrograde tracing in the brainstem nuclei. A larger number of 5-HT positive fibers were found in the cranial stump of the OLP and RLP groups compared to the lesion and caudal regions. Calcitonin gene-related peptide fibers were present in considerable numbers at the SCI site in both types of transplantation. Our results failed to verify differences between acute, 2-week and 4-week delayed transplantation of OLP and RLP, suggesting that the limited functional and axon reparative effects observed could not be exclusively related to OECs. A greater understanding of the effects of these tissue grafts is necessary to strengthen the rationale for application of this treatment in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lígia Aline Centenaro
- Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite 500, CEP: 90050-170, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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