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Badodi S, Pomella N, Lim YM, Brandner S, Morrison G, Pollard SM, Zhang X, Zabet NR, Marino S. Combination of BMI1 and MAPK/ERK inhibitors is effective in medulloblastoma. Neuro Oncol 2022; 24:1273-1285. [PMID: 35213723 PMCID: PMC9340634 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac052] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic changes play a key role in the pathogenesis of medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor. METHODS We explore the therapeutic potential of BMI1 and MAPK/ERK inhibition in BMI1High;CHD7Low MB cells and in a preclinical xenograft model. RESULTS We identify a synergistic vulnerability of BMI1High;CHD7Low MB cells to a combination treatment with BMI1 and MAPK/ERK inhibitors. Mechanistically, CHD7-dependent binding of BMI1 to MAPK-regulated genes underpins the CHD7-BMI1-MAPK regulatory axis responsible of the antitumour effect of the inhibitors in vitro and in a preclinical mouse model. Increased ERK1 and ERK2 phosphorylation activity is found in BMI1High;CHD7Low G4 MB patients, raising the possibility that they could be amenable to a similar therapy. CONCLUSIONS The molecular dissection of the CHD7-BMI1-MAPK regulatory axis in BMI1High;CHD7Low MB identifies this signature as a proxy to predict MAPK functional activation, which can be effectively drugged in preclinical models, and paves the way for further exploration of combined BMI1 and MAPK targeting in G4 MB patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Badodi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Nicola Pomella
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Yau Mun Lim
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Sebastian Brandner
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Gillian Morrison
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine & Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Steven M Pollard
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine & Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Nicolae Radu Zabet
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Silvia Marino
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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2
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Badodi S, Pomella N, Zhang X, Zabet NR, Basson MA, Marino S. MEDB-23. Targeting epigenetic dysregulation in medulloblastoma with poor prognosis. Neuro Oncol 2022. [PMCID: PMC9165212 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac079.397] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common paediatric malignant brain tumour and is classified into four distinct molecular subgroups (WNT, SHH, G3 and G4), each of them further subdivided into subtypes with different prognosis and responses to therapy. Deregulation of chromatin modifier genes play an essential role in MB, particularly in the G4 subgroup. A BMI1High;CHD7Low molecular signature identifies patients with poor survival within this subgroup. We show that BMI1High;CHD7Low sustains MB growth through regulation of MAPK/ERK signalling and via a novel epigenetic regulation of inositol metabolism in both G4 MB cells and patients. These tumours display over-activation of MAPK/ERK signalling, sustaining tumour proliferation, and of AKT/mTOR pathway which leads to energetic rewiring characterised by enhanced glycolytic capacity and reduced mitochondrial function. We demonstrate that inositol administration counteracts this metabolic alteration, impairs proliferation and significantly extends survival in a pre-clinical model. Moreover, inositol synergises with cisplatin, a chemotherapy agent currently used in MB treatment, enhancing its therapeutic effect in vivo. Additionally, we identify a synergistic vulnerability of BMI1High;CHD7Low MB to a combination treatment with BMI1 and MAPK/ERK inhibitors that overcomes acquired resistance to single-drug therapy. Mechanistically, we observe a CHD7-dependent binding of BMI1 to MAPK-regulated genes underpinning the CHD7-BMI1-MAPK regulatory axis that is critical for the anti-tumour effect of the inhibitors in vitro and in a pre-clinical model. Moreover, we demonstrate that the BMI1High;CHD7Low molecular signature defines G4 MB patients with an enhanced ERK1-ERK2 phosphorylation activity. Importantly, cerebellar neural stem cells modelling the BMI1High;CHD7Low signature are not affected by BMI1 and MAPK/ERK inhibitors and do not show metabolic adaptation hence are resistant to the proposed treatments. In summary, we have identified two actionable vulnerabilities in a pre-clinical setting modelling a molecularly defined group of MB patients, paving the way for the design of signature-matched clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Badodi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London , London , United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Pomella
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London , London , United Kingdom
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London , London , United Kingdom
| | - Nicolae Radu Zabet
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London , London , United Kingdom
| | - M Albert Basson
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London , London , United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Marino
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London , London , United Kingdom
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3
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Badodi S, Pomella N, Zhang X, Morrison G, Pollard SM, Bennett CD, Clifford SC, Peet A, Marino S. EMBR-10. INOSITOL TREATMENT INHIBITS MEDULLOBLASTOMA THROUGH SUPPRESSION OF EPIGENETIC-DRIVEN METABOLIC ADAPTATION. Neuro Oncol 2021. [PMCID: PMC8168266 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noab090.028] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common paediatric malignant brain tumour and is classified into four distinct molecular subgroups (WNT, SHH, G3 and G4), each of them further subdivided into subtypes with different prognosis and responses to therapy. Deregulation of chromatin modifier genes plays an essential role in MB, particularly in the G4 subgroup, the least understood of all subgroups, despite being the most common and associated with poor prognosis. A BMI1High; CHD7Low molecular signature identifies patients with poor survival within this subgroup. We show that BMI1High; CHD7Low mediates a novel epigenetic regulation of inositol metabolism in both G4 MB cells and patients. These tumours display hyperactivation of the AKT/mTOR pathway which leads to energetic rewiring characterized by enhanced glycolytic capacity and reduced mitochondrial function. We demonstrate that inositol administration counteracts this metabolic alteration, impairs MB proliferation in vitro and significantly extends survival in an in vivo pre-clinical model. Moreover, inositol synergises with cisplatin, a chemotherapy agent currently used in MB treatment, enhancing its therapeutic effect in vivo. Importantly, cerebellar neural stem cells bearing the BMI1High; CHD7Low signature do not show metabolic adaptation and are thus resistant to inositol treatment, highlighting a fundamental difference between normal and neoplastic metabolism in the developing cerebellum. In summary, we have identified an actionable vulnerability in a pre-clinical setting modelling a molecularly defined group of MB patients, the translational value of which can now be explored in signature-matched clinical trials in MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Badodi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Nicola Pomella
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Gillian Morrison
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine & Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Steve M Pollard
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine & Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Christopher D Bennett
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - Steven C Clifford
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Andrew Peet
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - Silvia Marino
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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4
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Badodi S, Pomella N, Zhang X, Rosser G, Whittingham J, Niklison-Chirou MV, Lim YM, Brandner S, Morrison G, Pollard SM, Bennett CD, Clifford SC, Peet A, Basson MA, Marino S. Inositol treatment inhibits medulloblastoma through suppression of epigenetic-driven metabolic adaptation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2148. [PMID: 33846320 PMCID: PMC8042111 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22379-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of chromatin modifiers plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of medulloblastoma, the most common paediatric malignant brain tumour. Here, we identify a BMI1-dependent sensitivity to deregulation of inositol metabolism in a proportion of medulloblastoma. We demonstrate mTOR pathway activation and metabolic adaptation specifically in medulloblastoma of the molecular subgroup G4 characterised by a BMI1High;CHD7Low signature and show this can be counteracted by IP6 treatment. Finally, we demonstrate that IP6 synergises with cisplatin to enhance its cytotoxicity in vitro and extends survival in a pre-clinical BMI1High;CHD7Low xenograft model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Badodi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Nicola Pomella
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Gabriel Rosser
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - John Whittingham
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Victoria Niklison-Chirou
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI-Bath), Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Yau Mun Lim
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Sebastian Brandner
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Gillian Morrison
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine & Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Steven M Pollard
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine & Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Christopher D Bennett
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - Steven C Clifford
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Andrew Peet
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Silvia Marino
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
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5
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Ganassi M, Badodi S, Wanders K, Zammit PS, Hughes SM. Myogenin is an essential regulator of adult myofibre growth and muscle stem cell homeostasis. eLife 2020; 9:e60445. [PMID: 33001028 PMCID: PMC7599067 DOI: 10.7554/elife.60445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Growth and maintenance of skeletal muscle fibres depend on coordinated activation and return to quiescence of resident muscle stem cells (MuSCs). The transcription factor Myogenin (Myog) regulates myocyte fusion during development, but its role in adult myogenesis remains unclear. In contrast to mice, myog-/-zebrafish are viable, but have hypotrophic muscles. By isolating adult myofibres with associated MuSCs, we found that myog-/- myofibres have severely reduced nuclear number, but increased myonuclear domain size. Expression of fusogenic genes is decreased, Pax7 upregulated, MuSCs are fivefold more numerous and mis-positioned throughout the length of myog-/-myofibres instead of localising at myofibre ends as in wild-type. Loss of Myog dysregulates mTORC1 signalling, resulting in an 'alerted' state of MuSCs, which display precocious activation and faster cell cycle entry ex vivo, concomitant with myod upregulation. Thus, beyond controlling myocyte fusion, Myog influences the MuSC:niche relationship, demonstrating a multi-level contribution to muscle homeostasis throughout life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Ganassi
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Sara Badodi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Kees Wanders
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Peter S Zammit
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Simon M Hughes
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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6
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Ricci B, Millner TO, Pomella N, Zhang X, Guglielmi L, Badodi S, Ceric D, Gemma C, Cognolato E, Zhang Y, Brandner S, Barnes MR, Marino S. Polycomb-mediated repression of EphrinA5 promotes growth and invasion of glioblastoma. Oncogene 2020; 39:2523-2538. [PMID: 31988455 PMCID: PMC7082224 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1161-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive intrinsic brain tumour in adults. Integrated transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses of glioblastoma initiating cells (GIC) in a mouse model uncovered a novel epigenetic regulation of EfnA5. In this model, Bmi1 enhances H3K27me3 at the EfnA5 locus and reinforces repression of selected target genes in a cellular context-dependent fashion. EfnA5 mediates Bmi1-dependent proliferation and invasion in vitro and tumour formation in an allograft model. Importantly, we show that this novel Polycomb feed-forward loop is also active in human GIC and we provide pre-clinical evidence of druggability of the EFNA5 signalling pathway in GBM xenografts overexpressing Bmi1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Ricci
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Thomas O Millner
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Nicola Pomella
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Loredana Guglielmi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Sara Badodi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Dario Ceric
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Carolina Gemma
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Erica Cognolato
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Ying Zhang
- Division of Neuropathology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Sebastian Brandner
- Division of Neuropathology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Michael R Barnes
- Centre for Translational Bioinformatics, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Silvia Marino
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT, UK.
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7
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Abstract
Established cell lines have been extensively used in cancer research. They are easy to obtain and expand and are composed of a relatively uniform population of cells. When experimental conditions are kept standard, these cells allow a high reproducibility of experimental findings from independent research groups. However, because these cell lines have been propagated in culture for decades, additional genetic lesions may be acquired leading to modification of their characteristics as compared to the original tumor. Primary cultures represent a valid alternative. Here, we describe standardized protocols to establish medulloblastoma (MB) patient-derived primary cultures from fresh tumor samples. MB primary cells grow as an adherent culture on a laminin coating and can be propagated in vitro for a limited number of passages, therefore reducing the chances to accumulate molecular alterations compared to long-term cultures. Consequently, they better resemble the original tumor both in terms of biological behavior and molecular characteristics. Low-passage MB primary cells can be used as an in vitro model for biochemical studies and functional assays, representing a useful tool to dissect the contribution of molecular pathways to MB pathogenesis. They can also represent a useful screening tool for potential therapeutic agents in preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Badodi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Silvia Marino
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
| | - Loredana Guglielmi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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8
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Badodi S, Dubuc A, Zhang X, Rosser G, Da Cunha Jaeger M, Kameda-Smith MM, Morrissy AS, Guilhamon P, Suetterlin P, Li XN, Guglielmi L, Merve A, Farooq H, Lupien M, Singh SK, Basson MA, Taylor MD, Marino S. Convergence of BMI1 and CHD7 on ERK Signaling in Medulloblastoma. Cell Rep 2017; 21:2772-2784. [PMID: 29212025 PMCID: PMC5732319 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe molecular convergence between BMI1 and CHD7 in the initiation of medulloblastoma. Identified in a functional genomic screen in mouse models, a BMI1High;CHD7Low expression signature within medulloblastoma characterizes patients with poor overall survival. We show that BMI1-mediated repression of the ERK1/2 pathway leads to increased proliferation and tumor burden in primary human MB cells and in a xenograft model, respectively. We provide evidence that repression of the ERK inhibitor DUSP4 by BMI1 is dependent on a more accessible chromatin configuration in G4 MB cells with low CHD7 expression. These findings extend current knowledge of the role of BMI1 and CHD7 in medulloblastoma pathogenesis, and they raise the possibility that pharmacological targeting of BMI1 or ERK may be particularly indicated in a subgroup of MB with low expression levels of CHD7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Badodi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Adrian Dubuc
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 101 College Street, TMDT-11-401M, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Gabriel Rosser
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Mariane Da Cunha Jaeger
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Michelle M Kameda-Smith
- Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster Children's Hospital and McMaster Stem Cell & Cancer Research Institute, MDCL 5027, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Anca Sorana Morrissy
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 101 College Street, TMDT-11-401M, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Paul Guilhamon
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Philipp Suetterlin
- Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, King's College London, Floor 27, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Xiao-Nan Li
- Texas Children's Cancer Centre, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, 6621 Fannin Street, MC-3-3320, Houston, TX 77479, USA
| | - Loredana Guglielmi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Ashirwad Merve
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Hamza Farooq
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 101 College Street, TMDT-11-401M, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Mathieu Lupien
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sheila K Singh
- Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster Children's Hospital and McMaster Stem Cell & Cancer Research Institute, MDCL 5027, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - M Albert Basson
- Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, King's College London, Floor 27, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 101 College Street, TMDT-11-401M, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Silvia Marino
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK.
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9
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Badodi S, Zhang X, Dubuc A, Taylor MD, Marino S. MEDU-13. CONVERGENCE OF BMI1 AND CHD7 ON ERK SIGNALLING IN MEDULLOBLASTOMA. Neuro Oncol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nox083.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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10
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Baruffaldi F, Montarras D, Basile V, De Feo L, Badodi S, Ganassi M, Battini R, Nicoletti C, Imbriano C, Musarò A, Molinari S. Dynamic Phosphorylation of the Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2Cα1 Splice Variant Promotes Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and Hypertrophy. Stem Cells 2016; 35:725-738. [PMID: 27612437 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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: 03/11/2016] [Revised: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor MEF2C (Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2C) plays an established role in the early steps of myogenic differentiation. However, the involvement of MEF2C in adult myogenesis and in muscle regeneration has not yet been systematically investigated. Alternative splicing of mammalian MEF2C transcripts gives rise to two mutually exclusive protein variants: MEF2Cα2 which exerts a positive control of myogenic differentiation, and MEF2Cα1, in which the α1 domain acts as trans-repressor of the MEF2C pro-differentiation activity itself. However, MEF2Cα1 variants are persistently expressed in differentiating cultured myocytes, suggesting a role in adult myogenesis. We found that overexpression of both MEF2Cα1/α2 proteins in a mouse model of muscle injury promotes muscle regeneration and hypertrophy, with each isoform promoting different stages of myogenesis. Besides the ability of MEF2Cα2 to increase differentiation, we found that overexpressed MEF2Cα1 enhances both proliferation and differentiation of primary myoblasts, and activates the AKT/mTOR/S6K anabolic signaling pathway in newly formed myofibers. The multiple activities of MEF2Cα1 are modulated by phosphorylation of Ser98 and Ser110, two amino acid residues located in the α1 domain of MEF2Cα1. These specific phosphorylations allow the interaction of MEF2Cα1 with the peptidyl-prolyl isomerase PIN1, a regulator of MEF2C functions. Overall, in this study we established a novel regulatory mechanism in which the expression and the phosphorylation of MEF2Cα1 are critically required to sustain the adult myogenesis. The described molecular mechanism will represent a new potential target for the development of therapeutical strategies to treat muscle-wasting diseases. Stem Cells 2017;35:725-738.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorenza Baruffaldi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Didier Montarras
- Département de Biologie du Développement et Cellules Souches, Institut Pasteur (CNRS URA 2578), Paris, France
| | - Valentina Basile
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Luca De Feo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Sara Badodi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Massimo Ganassi
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, UK
| | - Renata Battini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Carmine Nicoletti
- Institute Pasteur-Cenci Bolognetti, DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, IIM, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Carol Imbriano
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Antonio Musarò
- Institute Pasteur-Cenci Bolognetti, DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, IIM, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Susanna Molinari
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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Abstract
The Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2C (MEF2C) transcription factor plays a critical role in skeletal muscle differentiation, promoting muscle-specific gene transcription. Here we report that in proliferating cells MEF2C is degraded in mitosis by the Anaphase Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C) and that this downregulation is necessary for an efficient progression of the cell cycle. We show that this mechanism of degradation requires the presence on MEF2C of a D-box (R-X-X-L) and 2 phospho-motifs, pSer98 and pSer110. Both the D-box and pSer110 motifs are encoded by the ubiquitous alternate α1 exon. These two domains mediate the interaction between MEF2C and CDC20, a co-activator of APC/C. We further report that in myoblasts, MEF2C regulates the expression of G2/M checkpoint genes (14–3–3γ, Gadd45b and p21) and the sub-cellular localization of CYCLIN B1. The importance of controlling MEF2C levels during the cell cycle is reinforced by the observation that modulation of its expression affects the proliferation rate of colon cancer cells. Our findings show that beside the well-established role as pro-myogenic transcription factor, MEF2C can also function as a regulator of cell proliferation.
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Key Words
- APC/C
- APC/C, Anaphase Promoting Complex/Cyclosome
- CDK, Cyclin Dependent Kinase
- CHX, Cycloheximide
- CRC, ColoRectal Cancer
- Gadd45b, Growth Arrest and DNA Damage b
- HDAC, Histone Deacetylases
- MADS, Minichromosome maintenance, Agamous, Deficiens, Serum response factor
- MEF2
- MEF2, Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2
- MyHC, Myosin Heavy Chain
- UPS, Ubiquitin Proteasome System
- cell cycle
- degradation
- degron, degradation signal
- mitosis
- muscle
- phosphorylation
- proliferation
- splicing
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Badodi
- a Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita ; Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia ; Modena , Italy
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Ganassi M, Badodi S, Polacchini A, Baruffaldi F, Battini R, Hughes SM, Hinits Y, Molinari S. Distinct functions of alternatively spliced isoforms encoded by zebrafish mef2ca and mef2cb. Biochim Biophys Acta 2014; 1839:559-70. [PMID: 24844180 PMCID: PMC4064114 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2014.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2013] [Revised: 04/29/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
In mammals, an array of MEF2C proteins is generated by alternative splicing (AS), yet specific functions have not been ascribed to each isoform. Teleost fish possess two MEF2C paralogues, mef2ca and mef2cb. In zebrafish, the Mef2cs function to promote cardiomyogenic differentiation and myofibrillogenesis in nascent skeletal myofibers. We found that zebrafish mef2ca and mef2cb are alternatively spliced in the coding exons 4–6 region and these splice variants differ in their biological activity. Of the two, mef2ca is more abundantly expressed in developing skeletal muscle, its activity is tuned through zebrafish development by AS. By 24 hpf, we found the prevalent expression of the highly active full length protein in differentiated muscle in the somites. The splicing isoform of mef2ca that lacks exon 5 (mef2ca 4–6), encodes a protein that has 50% lower transcriptional activity, and is found mainly earlier in development, before muscle differentiation. mef2ca transcripts including exon 5 (mef2ca 4–5–6) are present early in the embryo. Over-expression of this isoform alters the expression of genes involved in early dorso-ventral patterning of the embryo such as chordin, nodal related 1 and goosecoid, and induces severe developmental defects. AS of mef2cb generates a long splicing isoform in the exon 5 region (Mef2cbL) that predominates during somitogenesis. Mef2cbL contains an evolutionarily conserved domain derived from exonization of a fragment of intron 5, which confers the ability to induce ectopic muscle in mesoderm upon over-expression of the protein. Taken together, the data show that AS is a significant regulator of Mef2c activity. mef2ca and mef2cb gene products are alternatively spliced in zebrafish. Inclusion of exon 5 in mef2ca transcripts is regulated during zebrafish development. Exon 5 confers on Mef2ca the ability to activate early patterning genes. Mef2cb includes an extra octapeptide encoded by a region of intron 5. Inclusion of the extra-octapeptide confers on Mef2cb pro-myogenic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ganassi
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Life Sciences, Italy; Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - S Badodi
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Life Sciences, Italy
| | - A Polacchini
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Life Sciences, Italy
| | - F Baruffaldi
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Life Sciences, Italy
| | - R Battini
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Life Sciences, Italy
| | - S M Hughes
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Y Hinits
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London, SE1 1UL, UK.
| | - S Molinari
- University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Life Sciences, Italy.
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