Project description:Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and most aggressive type of primary brain tumor. The brain-infiltrative character of glioblastoma makes complete surgical removal of the tumor impossible and neither radiation nor current chemotherapy provide cure. Recent evidence shows that glioblastoma multiforme consists of heterogeneous cell populations which differ in tumor-forming potential. Enriched tumor-initiating capacity has been linked to poorly differentiated glioblastoma cells sharing features with neural stem cells. Thus, these cells are important targets for new therapeutic strategies. We aim to identify novel targets controlling maintenance and differentiation in glioblastoma-initiating cells through high throughput screening. To this end, we utilized libraries of small chemical compounds and small interference RNAs in combination with automated imaging and data analysis. Patient-derived glioblastoma cells were expanded and characterized using neural stem cell conditions. In culture, the cells showed low differentiation but expression of neural stem cell markers such as Nestin and Sox2. Upon intracranial injection into SCID mice these cells gave rise to tumors displaying the hallmarks of the human disease. Differentiation of glioblastoma-initiating cells (for example elicited through bone morphogenetic protein, BMP) was associated with strong morphological changes. Hence, cellular morphology, as well as markers specific for differentiation or death were used as screen readout. Lentiviral RNA interference-based screening yielded several gene knockdowns leading to ‘forced’ differentiation of glioblastoma-initiating cells. For example, knockdown of TRRAP (transformation/transcription domain associated protein) led to strongly increased differentiation and loss of proliferative and self-renewing capacity in these cells. TRRAP is an adapter protein implicated in oncogenic transformation through c-MYC transcription activation, also participating in chromatin remodeling and DNA repair. Glioblastoma-initiating cells with reduced TRRAP displayed increased apoptosis upon treatment with the genotoxic agent temozolomide. In vivo, Trapp knockdown cells were not able to give rise to glioblastoma upon transplantation into the brain of SCID mice. Together, these findings support a crucial role for TRRAP in maintenance and tumorigenicity of glioblastoma-initiating cells and might offer future therapeutic options. Two treatments compared to control: two different shRNA sequences for TRRAP were compared to a control shRNA sequence in their effects on global transcription in brain tumor initiating cells
Project description:Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and most aggressive type of primary brain tumor. The brain-infiltrative character of glioblastoma makes complete surgical removal of the tumor impossible and neither radiation nor current chemotherapy provide cure. Recent evidence shows that glioblastoma multiforme consists of heterogeneous cell populations which differ in tumor-forming potential. Enriched tumor-initiating capacity has been linked to poorly differentiated glioblastoma cells sharing features with neural stem cells. Thus, these cells are important targets for new therapeutic strategies. We aim to identify novel targets controlling maintenance and differentiation in glioblastoma-initiating cells through high throughput screening. To this end, we utilized libraries of small chemical compounds and small interference RNAs in combination with automated imaging and data analysis. Patient-derived glioblastoma cells were expanded and characterized using neural stem cell conditions. In culture, the cells showed low differentiation but expression of neural stem cell markers such as Nestin and Sox2. Upon intracranial injection into SCID mice these cells gave rise to tumors displaying the hallmarks of the human disease. Differentiation of glioblastoma-initiating cells (for example elicited through bone morphogenetic protein, BMP) was associated with strong morphological changes. Hence, cellular morphology, as well as markers specific for differentiation or death were used as screen readout. Lentiviral RNA interference-based screening yielded several gene knockdowns leading to ‘forced’ differentiation of glioblastoma-initiating cells. For example, knockdown of TRRAP (transformation/transcription domain associated protein) led to strongly increased differentiation and loss of proliferative and self-renewing capacity in these cells. TRRAP is an adapter protein implicated in oncogenic transformation through c-MYC transcription activation, also participating in chromatin remodeling and DNA repair. Glioblastoma-initiating cells with reduced TRRAP displayed increased apoptosis upon treatment with the genotoxic agent temozolomide. In vivo, Trapp knockdown cells were not able to give rise to glioblastoma upon transplantation into the brain of SCID mice. Together, these findings support a crucial role for TRRAP in maintenance and tumorigenicity of glioblastoma-initiating cells and might offer future therapeutic options.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE11240: An RNAi Screen of Chromatin Proteins Identifies Tip60-p400 as a Regulator of Embryonic Stem Cell Identity, Experiment A GSE11241: An RNAi Screen of Chromatin Proteins Identifies Tip60-p400 as a Regulator of Embryonic Stem Cell Identity, Experiment B Keywords: SuperSeries Refer to individual Series
Project description:Epigenetic control of neural stem/progenitor cell fate is fundamental to achieve a fully brain architecture. Two intrinsic programs regulate neurogenesis, one by epigenetic-mediated gene transcription and another by cell cycle control. Whether and how these two are coordinated to determine temporally and spatially neural development remains unknown. Here we show that deletion of Trrap (Transcription translation associated protein), an essential cofactor for HAT (histone acetyltransferase), leads to severe brain atrophy due to a combination of cell death and a blockade of neuron production. Specifically, Trrap deletion forces differentiation of apical progenitor (AP) fate into basal progenitors (BP) and neurons thereby limiting the total neurogenic production. Despite TrrapM-bM-^@M-^Ys general role in transcriptional regulation, a genome-wide transcriptome analysis of neuroprogenitors identified the cell cycle regulators that are specifically affected by Trrap deletion. Furthermore, E2F-dependent recruitment of HAT and transcription factors to the promoter of cell cycle regulators is impaired in Trrap-deleted neuroprogenitors. Consistent with these molecular changes, Trrap deletion lengthens particularly G1 and S phases in APs in vivo. Therefore, our study reveals an essential and a distinct function of Trrap-HAT in regulation of cell cycle progression that is required for proper determination of neuroprogenitor fate. Determine gene transcriptions by comparing Trrap-deleted and wild type samples
Project description:Intra-tumor heterogeneity of tumor-initiating cell (TIC) activity drives colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and therapy resistance. Here, we used single-cell mRNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of patient-derived CRC models to decipher distinct cell subpopulations based on their transcriptional profiles. Cell type-specific expression modules of stem-like, transit amplifying-like, and differentiated CRC cells resemble differentiation states of normal intestinal epithelial cells. Strikingly, identified subpopulations differ in proliferative activity and metabolic state. In summary, we here show at single-cell resolution that transcriptional heterogeneity identifies functional states during TIC differentiation. Targeting transcriptional states associated to cancer cell differentiation might unravel vulnerabilities in human CRC.
Project description:Epigenetic control of neural stem/progenitor cell fate is fundamental to achieve a fully brain architecture. Two intrinsic programs regulate neurogenesis, one by epigenetic-mediated gene transcription and another by cell cycle control. Whether and how these two are coordinated to determine temporally and spatially neural development remains unknown. Here we show that deletion of Trrap (Transcription translation associated protein), an essential cofactor for HAT (histone acetyltransferase), leads to severe brain atrophy due to a combination of cell death and a blockade of neuron production. Specifically, Trrap deletion forces differentiation of apical progenitor (AP) fate into basal progenitors (BP) and neurons thereby limiting the total neurogenic production. Despite Trrap’s general role in transcriptional regulation, a genome-wide transcriptome analysis of neuroprogenitors identified the cell cycle regulators that are specifically affected by Trrap deletion. Furthermore, E2F-dependent recruitment of HAT and transcription factors to the promoter of cell cycle regulators is impaired in Trrap-deleted neuroprogenitors. Consistent with these molecular changes, Trrap deletion lengthens particularly G1 and S phases in APs in vivo. Therefore, our study reveals an essential and a distinct function of Trrap-HAT in regulation of cell cycle progression that is required for proper determination of neuroprogenitor fate.