Project description:B-cell lymphoma and melanoma harbor recurrent mutations in the gene encoding the EZH2 histone methyltransferase, but the carcinogenic role of these mutations is unclear. Here we describe a mouse model in which the most common somatic EZH2 gain-of-function mutation (Y646F in human, Y641F in the mouse) can be conditionally expressed. Expression of Ezh2Y641F in mouse B-cells or melanocytes caused high-penetrance lymphoma or melanoma, respectively. Bcl2 overexpression or p53 loss, but not c-Myc overexpression, further accelerated lymphoma progression, and expression of mutant B-Raf but not mutant N-Ras further accelerated melanoma progression. Although expression of Ezh2Y641F increased abundance of global H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3), it also caused a widespread redistribution of this repressive mark, including a loss of H3K27me3 associated with increased transcription at many loci. These results suggest that Ezh2Y641F induces lymphoma and melanoma through a vast reorganization of chromatin structure inducing both repression and activation of polycomb-regulated loci. B cells: 4 WT vs 4 Y641F samples, Melanoma: WT (480, 855) vs Y641F (480D, 855D) isogenic cell lines differing only for the presence of WT vs Y641F Ezh2.
Project description:B-cell lymphoma and melanoma harbor recurrent mutations in the gene encoding the EZH2 histone methyltransferase, but the carcinogenic role of these mutations is unclear. Here we describe a mouse model in which the most common somatic EZH2 gain-of-function mutation (Y646F in human, Y641F in the mouse) can be conditionally expressed. Expression of Ezh2Y641F in mouse B-cells or melanocytes caused high-penetrance lymphoma or melanoma, respectively. Bcl2 overexpression or p53 loss, but not c-Myc overexpression, further accelerated lymphoma progression, and expression of mutant B-Raf but not mutant N-Ras further accelerated melanoma progression. Although expression of Ezh2Y641F increased abundance of global H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3), it also caused a widespread redistribution of this repressive mark, including a loss of H3K27me3 associated with increased transcription at many loci. These results suggest that Ezh2Y641F induces lymphoma and melanoma through a vast reorganization of chromatin structure inducing both repression and activation of polycomb-regulated loci.
Project description:An oncogenic Ezh2 mutation cooperates with particular genetic alterations to induce tumors in mice and redistributes H3K27m3 through the genome
Project description:B cell lymphoma and melanoma harbor recurrent mutations in the gene encoding the EZH2 histone methyltransferase (EZH2), but the carcinogenic role of these mutations is unclear. Here we describe a mouse model in which the most common somatic Ezh2 gain-of-function mutation (EZH2(Y646F) in human; Ezh2(Y641F) in mouse) is conditionally expressed. Expression of Ezh2(Y641F) in mouse B cells or melanocytes caused high-penetrance lymphoma or melanoma, respectively. Overexpression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2, but not the oncoprotein Myc, or loss of the tumor suppressor protein p53 (encoded by Trp53 in mice) further accelerated lymphoma progression. Expression of the mutant Braf but not the mutant Nras oncoprotein further accelerated melanoma progression. Although expression of Ezh2(Y641F) globally increased the abundance of trimethylated Lys27 of histone H3 (H3K27me3), it also caused a widespread redistribution of this repressive mark, including a loss of H3K27me3 that was associated with increased transcription at many loci. These results suggest that Ezh2(Y641F) induces lymphoma and melanoma through a vast reorganization of chromatin structure, inducing both repression and activation of polycomb-regulated loci.
Project description:We previously reported that LMO3 and HEN2 act as oncogenes in neuroblastoma development through up-regulating MASH1 transcription by interfering with HES1. To confirm these results in vivo, we generated transgenic mice of these genes. Lmo3 or Hen2 was expressed under the control of Wnt1 promoter, which is expressed in the central nervous system and neural crest of the sympathoadrenal lineage from which neuroblastoma develops. Heterozygous Lmo3 and Hen2 transgenic mice (Tg (Lmo3) and Tg (Hen2)) developed hydrocephalus at higher frequency than for the wild type mice, and all heterozygous double-transgenic mice (Tg (Lmo3; Hen2)) developed hydrocephalus. Therefore, Lmo3 and Hen2 may be involved in and have synergistic effects on hydrocephalus development. Although aqueduct stenosis occurred in all genotypes, it was mild in Tg (Lmo3; Hen2) mice. Furthermore, hydrocephalus was detected at E18.5 in Tg (Lmo3; Hen2). These results suggest that the causes of hydrocephalus are not only aqueduct stenosis but also disorder of neocortical development. A similar phenotype was reported in Robo1/2(-/-) mice, in which Hes1 expression level was decreased in ventricular zone progenitors. Thus, it is suggested that the expression levels of Lmo3 and/or Hen2 could determine the fate of stem cells by inhibiting Hes1 function during nervous system development and might be a trigger of aberrant neurogenesis in vivo.
Project description:B cell lymphoma and melanoma harbor recurrent mutations in the gene encoding the EZH2 histone methyltransferase (EZH2), but the carcinogenic role of these mutations is unclear. Here we describe a mouse model in which the most common somatic Ezh2 gain-of-function mutation (EZH2Y646F in human; Ezh2Y641F in mouse) is conditionally expressed. Expression of Ezh2Y641F in mouse B cells or melanocytes caused high-penetrance lymphoma or melanoma, respectively. Overexpression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2, but not the oncoprotein Myc, or loss of the tumor suppressor protein p53 (encoded by Trp53 in mice) further accelerated lymphoma progression. Expression of mutant Braf oncoprotein but not mutant Nras oncoprotein further accelerated melanoma progression. Although expression of Ezh2Y641F globally increased the abundance of trimethylated Lys27 of histone H3 (H3K27me3), it also caused a widespread redistribution of this repressive mark, including a loss of H3K27me3 that was associated with increased transcription at many loci. These results suggest that Ezh2Y641F induces lymphoma and melanoma through a vast reorganization of chromatin structure, inducing both repression and activation of polycomb-regulated loci.
Project description:Alterations of the v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) have been extensively studied in several tumor entities and are known to drive cell growth in several tumor entities. Effective targeted therapies with mutation-specific small molecule inhibitors have been developed and established for metastasized malignant melanoma. The BRAF V600E mutation and KIAA1549-BRAF fusion are alterations found in several brain tumors and show a distinct prognostic impact in some entities. Besides the diagnostic significance for the classification of central nervous system tumors, these alterations present possible therapy targets that may be exploitable for oncological treatments, as it has been established for malignant melanomas. In this review the different central nervous system tumors harboring BRAF alterations are presented and the diagnostic significance, prognostic role, and therapeutic potential are discussed.
Project description:Inactivation of the Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGFbeta) tumor suppressor pathway contributes to the progression of Pancreatic Ductal AdenoCarcinoma (PDAC) since it is inactivated in virtually all cases of this malignancy. Genetic lesions inactivating this pathway contribute to pancreatic tumor progression in mouse models. Transcriptional Intermediary Factor 1 gamma (TIF1gamma) has recently been proposed to be involved in TGFbeta signaling, functioning as either a positive or negative regulator of the pathway. Here, we addressed the role of TIF1gamma in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Using conditional Tif1gamma knockout mice (Tif1gamma(lox/lox)), we selectively abrogated Tif1gamma expression in the pancreas of Pdx1-Cre;Tif1gamma(lox/lox) mice. We also generated Pdx1-Cre;LSL-Kras(G12D);Tif1gamma(lox/lox) mice to address the effect of Tif1gamma loss-of-function in precancerous lesions induced by oncogenic Kras(G12D). Finally, we analyzed TIF1gamma expression in human pancreatic tumors. In our mouse model, we showed that Tif1gamma was dispensable for normal pancreatic development but cooperated with Kras activation to induce pancreatic tumors reminiscent of human Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms (IPMNs). Interestingly, these cystic lesions resemble those observed in Pdx1-Cre;LSL-Kras(G12D);Smad4(lox/lox) mice described by others. However, distinctive characteristics, such as the systematic presence of endocrine pseudo-islets within the papillary projections, suggest that SMAD4 and TIF1gamma don't have strictly redundant functions. Finally, we report that TIF1gamma expression is markedly down-regulated in human pancreatic tumors by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry supporting the relevance of these findings to human malignancy. This study suggests that TIF1gamma is critical for tumor suppression in the pancreas, brings new insight into the genetics of pancreatic cancer, and constitutes a promising model to decipher the respective roles of SMAD4 and TIF1gamma in the multifaceted functions of TGFbeta in carcinogenesis and development.
Project description:Notch signaling exerts both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive functions in the pancreas. In this study, deletion of Jag1 in conjunction with oncogenic Kras G12D expression in the mouse pancreas induced rapid development of acinar-to-ductal metaplasia and early stage pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasm; however, culminating in cystic neoplasms rather than ductal adenocarcinoma. Most cystic lesions in these mice were reminiscent of serous cystic neoplasm, and the rest resembled intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. Jag1 expression was lost or decreased in cystic lesions but retained in adenocarcinoma in these mice, so was the expression of Sox9. In pancreatic cancer patients, JAG1 expression is higher in cancerous tissue, and high JAG1 is associated with poor overall survival. Expression of SOX9 is correlated with JAG1, and high SOX9 is also associated with poor survival. Mechanistically, Jag1 regulates expression of Lkb1, a tumor suppressor involved in the development of pancreatic cystic neoplasm. Collectively, Jag1 can act as a tumor suppressor in the pancreas by delaying precursor lesions, whereas loss of Jag1 promoted a phenotypic switch from malignant carcinoma to benign cystic lesions.
Project description:Loss of the epithelial polarity gene scribble in clones of Drosophila imaginal disc cells can cooperate with Ras signaling to induce malignant tumors. Such mutant tissue overproliferates, resists apoptosis, leaves its place of origin and invades other organs, ultimately causing lethality. We show that increased Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling resulting from the loss of scribble promotes the movement of transformed cells to secondary sites. This effect requires Fos-dependent transcriptional activation of a matrix metalloprotease gene mmp1 downstream of JNK. Expression of the Mmp inhibitor Timp or Mmp RNAi knockdown suppresses cell invasiveness. The proinvasive function of the JNK pathway is revealed in a tumor context when active Ras signaling prevents the apoptotic response to JNK activity as it occurs in nontransformed cells. Based on these results, we present a model that explains the oncogenic cooperation between JNK and Ras, and describes how aberrant regulation of cell survival, proliferation and mobilization cooperate to incite malignant tumor formation.