1
|
Dobosz P, Stempor PA, Ramírez Moreno M, Bulgakova NA. Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of checkpoint genes on the tumour side of the immunological synapse. Heredity (Edinb) 2022; 129:64-74. [PMID: 35459932 PMCID: PMC9273643 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-022-00533-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a disease of the genome, therefore, its development has a clear Mendelian component, demonstrated by well-studied genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 in breast cancer risk. However, it is known that a single genetic variant is not enough for cancer to develop leading to the theory of multistage carcinogenesis. In many cases, it is a sequence of events, acquired somatic mutations, or simply polygenic components with strong epigenetic effects, such as in the case of brain tumours. The expression of many genes is the product of the complex interplay between several factors, including the organism’s genotype (in most cases Mendelian-inherited), genetic instability, epigenetic factors (non-Mendelian-inherited) as well as the immune response of the host, to name just a few. In recent years the importance of the immune system has been elevated, especially in the light of the immune checkpoint genes discovery and the subsequent development of their inhibitors. As the expression of these genes normally suppresses self-immunoreactivity, their expression by tumour cells prevents the elimination of the tumour by the immune system. These discoveries led to the rapid growth of the field of immuno-oncology that offers new possibilities of long-lasting and effective treatment options. Here we discuss the recent advances in the understanding of the key mechanisms controlling the expression of immune checkpoint genes in tumour cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paula Dobosz
- Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Administration in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Miguel Ramírez Moreno
- School of Biosciences and Bateson Centre, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Natalia A Bulgakova
- School of Biosciences and Bateson Centre, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Stempor PA, Avni D, Leibowitz R, Sidi Y, Stępień M, Dzieciątkowski T, Dobosz P. Comprehensive Analysis of Correlations in the Expression of miRNA Genes and Immune Checkpoint Genes in Bladder Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2553. [PMID: 33806327 PMCID: PMC7961343 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Personalised medicine is the future and hope for many patients, including those with cancers. Early detection, as well as rapid, well-selected treatment, are key factors leading to a good prognosis. MicroRNA mediated gene regulation is a promising area of development for new diagnostic and therapeutic methods, crucial for better prospects for patients. Bladder cancer is a frequent neoplasm, with high lethality and lacking modern, advanced therapeutic modalities, such as immunotherapy. MicroRNAs are involved in bladder cancer pathogenesis, proliferation, control and response to treatment, which we summarise in this perspective in response to lack of recent review publications in this field. We further performed a correlation-based analysis of microRNA and gene expression data in bladder cancer (BLCA) TCGA dataset. We identified 27 microRNAs hits with opposite expression profiles to genes involved in immune response in bladder cancer, and 24 microRNAs hits with similar expression profiles. We discuss previous studies linking the functions of these microRNAs to bladder cancer and assess if they are good candidates for personalised medicine therapeutics and diagnostics. The discussed functions include regulation of gene expression, interplay with transcription factors, response to treatment, apoptosis, cell proliferation and angiogenesis, initiation and development of cancer, genome instability and tumour-associated inflammatory reaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Przemysław A. Stempor
- SmartImmune Ltd, Accelerate Cambridge, University of Cambridge Judge Business School, Cambridge CB4 1EE, UK;
| | - Dror Avni
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research and Department of Medicine C, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashome 52621, Israel;
| | - Raya Leibowitz
- Oncology Institute, Shamir Medical Center, Be’er Yaakov, Tel Hashome 52621, Israel;
- Faculty of Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo 6997801, Israel;
| | - Yechezkel Sidi
- Faculty of Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo 6997801, Israel;
| | - Maria Stępień
- Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland;
| | | | - Paula Dobosz
- Department of Hematology, Transplantationand Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dobosz P, Stempor PA, Roszik J, Herman A, Layani A, Berger R, Avni D, Sidi Y, Leibowitz-Amit R. Checkpoint Genes at the Cancer Side of the Immunological Synapse in Bladder Cancer. Transl Oncol 2020; 13:193-200. [PMID: 31869744 PMCID: PMC6931203 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2019.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer therapy, but not all cancers respond to the currently available drugs, and even within cancers considered responsive to such modality, response rates range between 15 and 40%, depending on the cancer type, the line of treatment, and yet unknown clinical/molecular factors. Coordinated expression of checkpoint proteins was shown to occur on T cells, probably allowing fine-tuning of the signal transmitted to the cell. We performed a bioinformatic analysis of the expression of putative checkpoint mRNAs at the cancer side of the immunological synapse from the bladder cancer tumorgenome atlas (TCGA) database. Fifteen mRNAs, corresponding to both coinhibitory and costimulatory checkpoints, were shown to be expressed above a designated threshold. Of these, seven mRNAs were found to be coexpressed: CD277, PD-1L, CD48, CD86, galectin-9, TNFRSF14 (HVEM), and CD40. The expression of 2 of these mRNAs-BTN3A1 (CD277) and TNFRSF14 (HVEM)-was positively correlated with overall survival in the TCGA database. All these seven mRNA share putative binding sites of a few transcription factors (TFs). Of these, the expression of the TF BACH-2 was positively correlated with the expression of checkpoint mRNAs from the network. This suggests a joint transcriptional regulation on the expression of checkpoint mRNAs at the bladder tumor side of the immunological synapse.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paula Dobosz
- Oncology Institute and Cancer Research Centre, Sheba Medical Centre Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Przemysław A Stempor
- School of Life Sciences, Gurdon Institute, Department of Genetics, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge, UK; The Wellcome Trust/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge, UK; Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jason Roszik
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre, USA; Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre, USA
| | - Amir Herman
- Orthopedic Department, Assuta Medical Center, Ashdod, Israel
| | - Adi Layani
- Oncology Institute and Cancer Research Centre, Sheba Medical Centre Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Raanan Berger
- Oncology Institute and Cancer Research Centre, Sheba Medical Centre Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel; Oncology Department, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dror Avni
- Oncology Institute and Cancer Research Centre, Sheba Medical Centre Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yechezkel Sidi
- Oncology Institute and Cancer Research Centre, Sheba Medical Centre Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel; Oncology Department, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Raya Leibowitz-Amit
- Oncology Institute and Cancer Research Centre, Sheba Medical Centre Hospital, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel; Oncology Department, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|