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Genetically modified ZIKA virus as a microRNA-sensitive oncolytic virus against central nervous system tumors. Mol Ther 2024; 32:440-456. [PMID: 38213031 PMCID: PMC10861990 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Here we introduce a first-in-class microRNA-sensitive oncolytic Zika virus (ZIKV) for virotherapy application against central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The described methodology produced two synthetic modified ZIKV strains that are safe in normal cells, including neural stem cells, while preserving brain tropism and oncolytic effects in tumor cells. The microRNA-sensitive ZIKV introduces genetic modifications in two different virus sites: first, in the established 3'UTR region, and secondly, in the ZIKV protein coding sequence, demonstrating for the first time that the miRNA inhibition systems can be functional outside the UTR RNA sites. The total tumor remission in mice bearing human CNS tumors, including metastatic tumor growth, after intraventricular and systemic modified ZIKV administration, confirms the promise of this virotherapy as a novel agent against brain tumors-highly deadly diseases in urgent need of effective advanced therapies.
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Neurodegeneration-associated protein VAPB regulates proliferation in medulloblastoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19481. [PMID: 37945695 PMCID: PMC10636017 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45319-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
VAMP (Vesicle-associated membrane protein)-associated protein B and C (VAPB) has been widely studied in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, but little is known about its role in cancer. Medulloblastoma is a common brain malignancy in children and arises from undifferentiated cells during neuronal development. Therefore, medulloblastoma is an interesting model to investigate the possible relationship between VAPB and tumorigenesis. Here we demonstrate that high VAPB expression in medulloblastoma correlates with decreased overall patient survival. Consistent with this clinical correlation, we find that VAPB is required for normal proliferation rates of medulloblastoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Knockout of VAPB (VAPBKO) delayed cell cycle progression. Furthermore, transcript levels of WNT-related proteins were decreased in the VAPBKO. We conclude that VAPB is required for proliferation of medulloblastoma cells, thus revealing VAPB as a potential therapeutic target for medulloblastoma treatment.
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CSIG-29. EMPLOYING THE ZIKA VIRUS AS ONCOLYTIC VIROTHERAPY AGAINST PAEDIATRIC NERVOUS SYSTEM CANCER CELLS. Neuro Oncol 2022. [PMCID: PMC9660736 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac209.178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Malignant paediatric nervous system tumours, such as medulloblastoma, ATRT and high-risk neuroblastoma commonly harbour tumour cells with stem-like features which are highly tumorigenic and resistant to conventional therapies. These tumours can exhibit high lethality and may result in severe sequelae that significantly affect paediatric patients' quality of life. Oncolytic virotherapy exploits viruses that preferentially infect and destroy tumour cells. These viruses present a unique advantage in targeting highly heterogeneous cancers as they possess a secondary mechanism of action, through which they induce an anti-tumoral immune response. The Zika virus (ZIKV) is capable of infecting and destroying aggressive human paediatric brain tumour and neuroblastoma cells in vitro. ZIKV effectively reduces brain tumour size in mice (xenograft model) and canines (naturally occurring) and can induce an immune response against canine brain tumours.
METHODS
Employing global expression omics profiling of ZIKV infection and mapping of viral protein-host protein interactions, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms which underpin ZIKVs therapeutic properties, both at the molecular and cellular pathway levels.
RESULTS
Through extensive transcriptome profiling of ZIKV-infected paediatric brain tumour, neuroblastoma and NPCs, we have identified a variety of pathways which are involved in the ZIKV oncolytic response in the tumour cells and its neuro-dysregulation of NPCs. Despite both brain tumour and neuroblastoma cells undergoing ZIKV-induced oncolysis, we observed there to be a heterogeneous response within these different tumour cells at the molecular level to lead to oncolysis. Additionally, the infected tumour cells demonstrate elevated immune system profiles which alludes to the immune response that ZIKV may raise within the patient’s body against the paediatric tumour. Analysing our findings alongside the neuro-dysregulation we observe in our ZIKV-infected NPCs is allowing us to build a safety profile for employing a ZIKV-based therapy, whilst contributing to the growing knowledge of Congenital ZIKV Syndrome.
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Effect of Serial Systemic and Intratumoral Injections of Oncolytic ZIKV BR in Mice Bearing Embryonal CNS Tumors. Viruses 2021; 13:v13102103. [PMID: 34696533 PMCID: PMC8541080 DOI: 10.3390/v13102103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Zika virus (ZIKV) has shown a promising oncolytic effect against embryonal CNS tumors. However, studies on the effect of different administration routes and the ideal viral load in preclinical models are highly relevant aiming for treatment safety and efficiency. Here, we investigated the effect and effectiveness of different routes of administration, and the number of ZIKVBR injections on tumor tropism, destruction, and side effects. Furthermore, we designed an early-stage human brain organoid co-cultured with embryonal CNS tumors to analyze the ZIKVBR oncolytic effect. We showed that in the mice bearing subcutaneous tumors, the ZIKVBR systemically presented a tropism to the brain. When the tumor was located in the mice’s brain, serial systemic injections presented efficient tumor destruction, with no neurological or other organ injury and increased mice survival. In the human cerebral organoid model co-cultured with embryonal CNS tumor cells, ZIKVBR impaired tumor progression. The gene expression of cytokines and chemokines in both models suggested an enhancement of immune cells recruitment and tumor inflammation after the treatment. These results open new perspectives for virotherapy using the ZIKVBR systemic administration route and multiple doses of low virus load for safe and effective treatment of embryonal CNS tumors, an orphan disease that urges new effective therapies.
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Different gene expression profiles in iPSC-derived motor neurons from ALS8 patients with variable clinical courses suggest mitigating pathways for neurodegeneration. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:1465-1475. [PMID: 32280986 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis type 8 (ALS8) is an autosomal dominant form of ALS, which is caused by pathogenic variants in the VAPB gene. Here we investigated five ALS8 patients, classified as 'severe' and 'mild' from a gigantic Brazilian kindred, carrying the same VAPB mutation but displaying different clinical courses. Copy number variation and whole exome sequencing analyses in such individuals ruled out previously described genetic modifiers of pathogenicity. After deriving induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for each patient (N = 5) and controls (N = 3), motor neurons were differentiated, and high-throughput RNA-Seq gene expression measurements were performed. Functional cell death and oxidative metabolism assays were also carried out in patients' iPSC-derived motor neurons. The degree of cell death and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism were similar in iPSC-derived motor neurons from mild patients and controls and were distinct from those of severe patients. Similar findings were obtained when RNA-Seq from such cells was performed. Overall, 43 genes were upregulated and 66 downregulated in the two mild ALS8 patients when compared with severe ALS8 individuals and controls. Interestingly, significantly enriched pathways found among differentially expressed genes, such as protein translation and protein targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), are known to be associated with neurodegenerative processes. Taken together, the mitigating mechanisms here presented appear to maintain motor neuron survival by keeping translational activity and protein targeting to the ER in such cells. As ALS8 physiopathology has been associated with proteostasis mechanisms in ER-mitochondria contact sites, such differentially expressed genes appear to relate to the bypass of VAPB deficiency.
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MOMC-1. Employing the Zika Virus to kill paediatric nervous system tumour cells. Neurooncol Adv 2021. [PMCID: PMC8255419 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdab070.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant paediatric nervous system tumours, such as Medulloblastoma, Neuroblastoma and ATRT commonly harbour tumour cells with stem-like features which are highly tumorigenic and resistant to conventional cancer therapies. These tumours can exhibit high lethality and may result in severe sequelae, including cognitive and motor deficits that significantly affect patients’ quality of life. Oncolytic virotherapy is a novel therapy class that exploits viruses that preferentially infect and destroy tumour cells. These viruses present a unique advantage in targeting highly heterogeneous cancers, such as nervous system tumours, as they possess a secondary mechanism of action through which they induce a tumour-specific immune response. Clinical studies employing oncolytic virotherapy have in general reported low toxicity and minimal adverse effects, deeming oncolytic virotherapy as a potentially attractive and safer intervention against paediatric tumours. The Zika virus (ZIKV) is capable of infecting and destroying neural stem-like cancer cells from human embryonal Central Nervous System (CNS) tumours in vitro and in vivo. Infection of CNS tumour cells with ZIKV effectively inhibits tumour metastasis in mice and, in some cases, induces complete tumour remission. Neuroblastoma arises from immature nerve cells and multiple Neuroblastoma cell lines are susceptible to ZIKV infection and oncolysis. These initial findings have demonstrated the potential for a ZIKV-based virotherapy against paediatric nervous system tumours and warrants examination into the molecular mechanisms through which ZIKV executes its oncolytic ability. My research goal is to elucidate the mechanisms which are of paramount importance for ZIKV-induced oncolysis of brain tumour and Neuroblastoma cells. Utilising global expression omics profiling of ZIKV infection and mapping of viral protein-host protein interactions will identify these mechanisms both at the cellular pathway and molecular levels. These collectively will inform our understanding of how we can employ a future ZIKV-based virotherapy against paediatric nervous system tumours.
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Safety, Tumor Reduction, and Clinical Impact of Zika Virus Injection in Dogs with Advanced-Stage Brain Tumors. Mol Ther 2020; 28:1276-1286. [PMID: 32220305 PMCID: PMC7210722 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant brain tumors are among the most aggressive cancers with poor prognosis and no effective treatment. Recently, we reported the oncolytic potential of Zika virus infecting and destroying the human central nervous system (CNS) tumors in vitro and in immunodeficient mice model. However, translating this approach to humans requires pre-clinical trials in another immunocompetent animal model. Here, we analyzed the safety of Brazilian Zika virus (ZIKVBR) intrathecal injections in three dogs bearing spontaneous CNS tumors aiming an anti-tumoral therapy. We further assessed some aspects of the innate immune and inflammatory response that triggers the anti-tumoral response observed during the ZIKVBR administration in vivo and in vitro. For the first time, we showed that there were no negative clinical side effects following ZIKVBR CNS injections in dogs, confirming the safety of the procedure. Furthermore, the intrathecal ZIKVBR injections reduced tumor size in immunocompetent dogs bearing spontaneous intracranial tumors, improved their neurological clinical symptoms significantly, and extended their survival by inducing the destruction specifically of tumor cells, sparing normal neurons, and activating an immune response. These results open new perspectives for upcoming virotherapy using ZIKV to destroy and induce an anti-tumoral immune response in CNS tumors for which there are currently no effective treatments.
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Proteome and miRNome profiling of microvesicles derived from medulloblastoma cell lines with stem-like properties reveals biomarkers of poor prognosis. Brain Res 2020; 1730:146646. [PMID: 31917138 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 11/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors are the most common deadly childhood cancer. Several patients with medulloblastoma experience local or metastatic recurrences after standard treatment, a condition associated with very poor prognosis. Current neuroimaging techniques do not accurately detect residual stem-like medulloblastoma cells promoting tumor relapses. In attempt to identify candidate tumor markers that could be circulating in blood or cerebrospinal (CSF) fluid of patients, we evaluated the proteome and miRNome content of extracellular microvesicles (MVs) released by highly-aggressive stem-like medulloblastoma cells overexpressing the pluripotent factor OCT4A. These cells display enhanced tumor initiating capability and resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. A common set of 464 proteins and 10 microRNAs were exclusively detected in MVs of OCT4A-overexpressing cells from four distinct medulloblastoma cell lines, DAOY, CHLA-01-MED, D283-MED, and USP13-MED. The interactome mapping of these exclusive proteins and miRNAs revealed ERK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, EGF/EGFR, and stem cell self-renewal as the main oncogenic signaling pathways altered in these aggressive medulloblastoma cells. Of these MV cargos, four proteins (UBE2M, HNRNPCL2, HNRNPCL3, HNRNPCL4) and five miRNAs (miR-4449, miR-500b, miR-3648, miR-1291, miR-3607) have not been previously reported in MVs from normal tissues and in CSF. These proteins and miRNAs carried within MVs might serve as biomarkers of aggressive stem-like medulloblastoma cells to improve clinical benefit by helping refining diagnosis, patient stratification, and early detection of relapsed disease.
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miR-367 as a therapeutic target in stem-like cells from embryonal central nervous system tumors. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:2574-2587. [PMID: 31402560 PMCID: PMC6887591 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant expression of the pluripotency factor OCT4A in embryonal tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) is a key factor that contributes to tumor aggressiveness and correlates with poor patient survival. OCT4A overexpression has been shown to up-regulate miR-367, a microRNA (miRNA) that regulates pluripotency in embryonic stem cells and stem-like aggressive traits in cancer cells. Here, we show that (a) miR-367 is carried in microvesicles derived from embryonal CNS tumor cells expressing OCT4A; and (b) inhibition of miR-367 in these cells attenuates their aggressive traits. miR-367 silencing in OCT4A-overexpressing tumor cells significantly reduced their proliferative and invasive behavior, clonogenic activity, and tumorsphere generation capability. In vivo, targeting of miR-367 through direct injections of a specific inhibitor into the cerebrospinal fluid of Balb/C nude mice bearing OCT4A-overexpressing tumor xenografts inhibited tumor development and improved overall survival. miR-367 was also shown to target SUZ12, one of the core components of the polycomb repressive complex 2 known to be involved in epigenetic silencing of pluripotency-related genes, including POU5F1, which encodes OCT4A. Our findings reveal possible clinical applications of a cancer stemness pathway, highlighting miR-367 as a putative liquid biopsy biomarker that could be further explored to improve early diagnosis and prognosis prediction, and potentially serve as a therapeutic target in aggressive embryonal CNS tumors.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Biomarkers, Tumor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Central Nervous System Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Central Nervous System Neoplasms/genetics
- Central Nervous System Neoplasms/metabolism
- Central Nervous System Neoplasms/pathology
- Gene Silencing
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Nude
- MicroRNAs/antagonists & inhibitors
- MicroRNAs/genetics
- MicroRNAs/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/drug therapy
- Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/genetics
- Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/pathology
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/pathology
- RNA, Neoplasm/antagonists & inhibitors
- RNA, Neoplasm/genetics
- RNA, Neoplasm/metabolism
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Abstract 2869: Zika virus is a potent oncolytic agent against aggressive human ependymoma. Cancer Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2019-2869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Ependymoma is a metastatic CNS tumor responsible for 10% of all pediatric brain tumors. Displaying a poor survival rate of only 32.5%, the conventional ependymoma treatment is surgery and radiation therapy associated to significant morbidity. Previous studies found significantly increased expression of NESTIN, a neural progenitor cell (NPC) marker, in aggressive ependymoma. Zika virus (ZIKV) has recently emerged as an oncolytic therapy against adult and pediatric CNS tumors due to its ability to infect NPCs and neural stem-like tumor cells. We showed for the first time that Brazilian Zika virus strain efficiently destroyed pediatric CNS tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, resulting in significantly mice longer survival and fewer metastasis. Once tumor cells overexpressing NPCs markers are more susceptible to ZIKV infection, here we evaluated the oncolytic properties of Brazilian ZIKV against human ependymoma. A patient-derived ependymoma cell line (USP21-EPE) has been established and found to abnormally express the pluripotency markers CD133, SOX2 and NESTIN. USP21-EPE monolayer culture showed massive cell death three days after ZIKV infection in four tested MOIs: 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 2. At MOI 0,1 50% of cell population decreased viability while at higher MOIs was observed 100% of cell death 72 hours post ZIKV infection. Moreover, ZIKV significantly disrupted CNS ependymoma tumorspheres reinforcing its oncolytic effect against the ependymoma tumor cells. Considering the poor effectiveness and severe side effects of available treatments for ependymoma and that most ZIKV infections are associated to very mild or no symptoms, our findings open new avenues for novel therapies against this aggressive pediatric tumor.
Citation Format: Carolini Kaid, Patrícia Semedo-Kuriki, Ernesto Goulart, Luiz Caires-Júnior, Renato Astray, Oswaldo Keith Okamoto, Mayana Zatz. Zika virus is a potent oncolytic agent against aggressive human ependymoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2869.
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Zika Virus Selectively Kills Aggressive Human Embryonal CNS Tumor Cells In Vitro and In Vivo. Cancer Res 2018; 78:3363-3374. [PMID: 29700002 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-3201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is largely known for causing brain abnormalities due to its ability to infect neural progenitor stem cells during early development. Here, we show that ZIKV is also capable of infecting and destroying stem-like cancer cells from aggressive human embryonal tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). When evaluating the oncolytic properties of Brazilian Zika virus strain (ZIKVBR) against human breast, prostate, colorectal, and embryonal CNS tumor cell lines, we verified a selective infection of CNS tumor cells followed by massive tumor cell death. ZIKVBR was more efficient in destroying embryonal CNS tumorspheres than normal stem cell neurospheres. A single intracerebroventricular injection of ZIKVBR in BALB/c nude mice bearing orthotopic human embryonal CNS tumor xenografts resulted in a significantly longer survival, decreased tumor burden, fewer metastasis, and complete remission in some animals. Tumor cells closely resembling neural stem cells at the molecular level with activated Wnt signaling were more susceptible to the oncolytic effects of ZIKVBR Furthermore, modulation of Wnt signaling pathway significantly affected ZIKVBR-induced tumor cell death and viral shedding. Altogether, these preclinical findings indicate that ZIKVBR could be an efficient agent to treat aggressive forms of embryonal CNS tumors and could provide mechanistic insights regarding its oncolytic effects.Significance: Brazilian Zika virus strain kills aggressive metastatic forms of human CNS tumors and could be a potential oncolytic agent for cancer therapy. Cancer Res; 78(12); 3363-74. ©2018 AACR.
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Down Syndrome iPSC-Derived Astrocytes Impair Neuronal Synaptogenesis and the mTOR Pathway In Vitro. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:5962-5975. [PMID: 29128905 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0818-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Several methods have been used to study the neuropathogenesis of Down syndrome (DS), such as mouse aneuploidies, post mortem human brains, and in vitro cell culture of neural progenitor cells. More recently, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has offered new approaches in investigation, providing a valuable tool for studying specific cell types affected by DS, especially neurons and astrocytes. Here, we investigated the role of astrocytes in DS developmental disease and the impact of the astrocyte secretome in neuron mTOR signaling and synapse formation using iPSC derived from DS and wild-type (WT) subjects. We demonstrated for the first time that DS neurons derived from hiPSC recapitulate the hyperactivation of the Akt/mTOR axis observed in DS brains and that DS astrocytes may play a key role in this dysfunction. Our results bear out that 21 trisomy in astrocytes contributes to neuronal abnormalities in addition to cell autonomous dysfunctions caused by 21 trisomy in neurons. Further research in this direction will likely yield additional insights, thereby improving our understanding of DS and potentially facilitating the development of new therapeutic approaches.
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High OCT4A levels drive tumorigenicity and metastatic potential of medulloblastoma cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:19192-19204. [PMID: 28186969 PMCID: PMC5386677 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is a highly aggressive pediatric brain tumor, in which sporadic expression of the pluripotency factor OCT4 has been recently correlated with poor patient survival. However the contribution of specific OCT4 isoforms to tumor aggressiveness is still poorly understood. Here, we report that medulloblastoma cells stably overexpressing the OCT4A isoform displayed enhanced clonogenic, tumorsphere generation, and invasion capabilities. Moreover, in an orthotopic metastatic model of medulloblastoma, OCT4A overexpressing cells generated more developed, aggressive and infiltrative tumors, with tumor-bearing mice attaining advanced metastatic disease and shorter survival rates. Pro-oncogenic OCT4A effects were expression-level dependent and accompanied by distinct chromosomal aberrations. OCT4A overexpression in medulloblastoma cells also induced a marked differential expression of non-coding RNAs, including poorly characterized long non-coding RNAs and small nucleolar RNAs. Altogether, our findings support the relevance of pluripotency-related factors in the aggravation of medulloblastoma traits classically associated with poor clinical outcome, and underscore the prognostic and therapeutic value of OCT4A in this challenging type of pediatric brain cancer.
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Establishment of a novel human medulloblastoma cell line characterized by highly aggressive stem-like cells. Cytotechnology 2015; 68:1545-60. [PMID: 26358937 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-015-9914-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is a highly aggressive brain tumor and one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality related to childhood cancer. These tumors display differential ability to metastasize and respond to treatment, which reflects their high degree of heterogeneity at the genetic and molecular levels. Such heterogeneity of medulloblastoma brings an additional challenge to the understanding of its physiopathology and impacts the development of new therapeutic strategies. This translational effort has been the focus of most pre-clinical studies which invariably employ experimental models using human tumor cell lines. Nonetheless, compared to other cancers, relatively few cell lines of human medulloblastoma are available in central repositories, partly due to the rarity of these tumors and to the intrinsic difficulties in establishing continuous cell lines from pediatric brain tumors. Here, we report the establishment of a new human medulloblastoma cell line which, in comparison with the commonly used and well-established cell line Daoy, is characterized by enhanced proliferation and invasion capabilities, stem cell properties, increased chemoresistance, tumorigenicity in an orthotopic metastatic model, replication of original medulloblastoma behavior in vivo, strong chromosome structural instability and deregulation of genes involved in neural development. These features are advantageous for designing biologically relevant experimental models in clinically oriented studies, making this novel cell line, named USP-13-Med, instrumental for the study of medulloblastoma biology and treatment.
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miR-367 promotes proliferation and stem-like traits in medulloblastoma cells. Cancer Sci 2015; 106:1188-95. [PMID: 26250335 PMCID: PMC4582988 DOI: 10.1111/cas.12733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In medulloblastoma, abnormal expression of pluripotency factors such as LIN28 and OCT4 has been correlated with poor patient survival. The miR-302/367 cluster has also been shown to control self-renewal and pluripotency in human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, but there is limited, mostly correlational, information about these pluripotency-related miRNA in cancer. We evaluated whether aberrant expression of such miRNA could affect tumor cell behavior and stem-like traits, thereby contributing to the aggressiveness of medulloblastoma cells. Basal expression of primary and mature forms of miR-367 were detected in four human medulloblastoma cell lines and expression of the latter was found to be upregulated upon enforced expression of OCT4A. Transient overexpression of miR-367 significantly enhanced tumor features typically correlated with poor prognosis; namely, cell proliferation, 3-D tumor spheroid cell invasion and the ability to generate neurosphere-like structures enriched in CD133 expressing cells. A concurrent downregulation of the miR-367 cancer-related targets RYR3, ITGAV and RAB23, was also detected in miR-367-overexpressing cells. Overall, these findings support the pro-oncogenic activity of miR-367 in medulloblastoma and reveal a possible mechanism contributing to tumor aggressiveness, which could be further explored to improve patient stratification and treatment of this important type of pediatric brain cancer.
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