Dataset Information

Human skin neural crest progenitor cells are susceptible to BRAF(V600E)-induced transformation.

ABSTRACT: Adult stem cells are multipotent and persist in small numbers in adult tissues throughout the lifespan of an organism. Unlike differentiated cells, adult stem cells are intrinsically resistant to senescence. It is unclear how adult stem cells in solid organs respond to oncogenic stimulation and whether these cells have a role in tumor initiation. We report here that expression of BRAF(V600E) in human neural crest progenitor cells (hNCPCs) did not induce growth arrest as seen in human melanocytes, but instead, increased their cell proliferation capacity. These cells (hNCPCs(V600E)) acquired anchorage-independent growth ability and were weakly tumorigenic in vivo. Unlike in human melanocytes, BRAF(V600E) expression in hNCPCs did not induce p16(INK4a) expression. BRAF(V600E) induced elevated expression of CDK2, CDK4, MITF and EST1/2 protein in hNCPCs, and also induced melanocytic differentiation of these cells. Furthermore, overexpression of MITF in hNCPCs(V600E) dramatically increased their tumorigenicity and resulted in fully transformed tumor cells. These findings indicate that hNCPCs are susceptible to BRAF(V600E)-induced transformation, and MITF potentiates the oncogenic effect of BRAF(V600E) in these progenitor cells. These results suggest that the hNCPCs are potential targets for BRAF(V600E)-induced melanocytic tumor formation.

SUBMITTER: Kumar SM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3695032 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Human skin neural crest progenitor cells are susceptible to BRAF(V600E)-induced transformation.

Kumar S M SM Dai J J Li S S Yang R R Yu H H Nathanson K L KL Liu S S Zhou H H Guo J J Xu X X

Oncogene 20130121 7

Adult stem cells are multipotent and persist in small numbers in adult tissues throughout the lifespan of an organism. Unlike differentiated cells, adult stem cells are intrinsically resistant to senescence. It is unclear how adult stem cells in solid organs respond to oncogenic stimulation and whether these cells have a role in tumor initiation. We report here that expression of BRAF(V600E) in human neural crest progenitor cells (hNCPCs) did not induce growth arrest as seen in human melanocytes ...[more]

PMID: 23334329

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Project description:The neural crest (NC) is a stem cell-like embryonic population that is essential for generating and patterning the vertebrate body, including the craniofacial skeleton and peripheral nervous system. Defects in NC development underlie many birth defects and contribute to formation of some of the most malignant cancers in humans, such as melanoma and neuroblastoma. For these reasons, significant research efforts have been expended to identify genes that control NC development, as it is expected to lead to a deeper understanding of the genetic mechanisms controlling vertebrate development and identify new treatments for NC-derived diseases and cancers. However, a number of inconsistencies regarding gene function during NC development have emerged from comparative analyses of gene function between mammalian and non-mammalian systems (chick, frog, zebrafish). This poses a significant barrier to identification of single genes and/or redundant pathways to target in NC diseases. Here, we determine whether technical differences, namely morpholino-based approaches used in non-mammalian systems, could contribute to these discrepancies, by examining the extent to which NC phenotypes in fascin1a (fscn1a) morphant embryos are similar to or different from fscn1a null mutants in zebrafish. Analysis of fscn1a morphants showed that they mimicked early NC phenotypes observed in fscn1a null mutants; however, these embryos also displayed NC migration and derivative phenotypes not observed in null mutants, including accumulation of p53-independent cell death. These data demonstrate that morpholinos can cause seemingly specific NC migration and derivative phenotypes, and thus have likely contributed to the inconsistencies surrounding NC gene function between species. We suggest that comparison of genetic mutants between different species is the most rigorous method for identifying conserved genetic mechanisms controlling NC development and is critical to identify new treatments for NC diseases.

Project description:Replacement of lost cranial bone (partly mesodermal and partly neural crest-derived) is challenging and includes the use of nonviable allografts. To revitalize allografts, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (mesoderm-derived BM-MSCs) have been used with limited success. We hypothesize that coating of allografts with induced neural crest cell-mesenchymal progenitor cells (iNCC-MPCs) improves implant-to-bone integration in mouse cranial defects. Human induced pluripotent stem cells were reprogramed from dermal fibroblasts, differentiated to iNCCs and then to iNCC-MPCs. BM-MSCs were used as reference. Cells were labeled with luciferase (Luc2) and characterized for MSC consensus markers expression, differentiation, and risk of cellular transformation. A calvarial defect was created in non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice and allografts were implanted, with or without cell coating. Bioluminescence imaging (BLI), microcomputed tomography (μCT), histology, immunofluorescence, and biomechanical tests were performed. Characterization of iNCC-MPC-Luc2 vs BM-MSC-Luc2 showed no difference in MSC markers expression and differentiation in vitro. In vivo, BLI indicated survival of both cell types for at least 8 weeks. At week 8, μCT analysis showed enhanced structural parameters in the iNCC-MPC-Luc2 group and increased bone volume in the BM-MSC-Luc2 group compared to controls. Histology demonstrated improved integration of iNCC-MPC-Luc2 allografts compared to BM-MSC-Luc2 group and controls. Human osteocalcin and collagen type 1 were detected at the allograft-host interphase in cell-seeded groups. The iNCC-MPC-Luc2 group also demonstrated improved biomechanical properties compared to BM-MSC-Luc2 implants and cell-free controls. Our results show an improved integration of iNCC-MPC-Luc2-coated allografts compared to BM-MSC-Luc2 and controls, suggesting the use of iNCC-MPCs as potential cell source for cranial bone repair.

Dataset Information

Human skin neural crest progenitor cells are susceptible to BRAF(V600E)-induced transformation.

Publications

Human skin neural crest progenitor cells are susceptible to BRAF(V600E)-induced transformation.

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