Project description:Neuroblastoma (NB) is a common pediatric malignancy tumor with poor outcome. Recent studies show that MDM2 protein inhibitors are promising anti-cancer agents. MI-773 is a novel and specific antagonist of MDM2 and the molecular mechanisms of MI-773 in neuroblastoma are still unclear. In this study, we used microarrays to analyze the global change in gene expression as a result of MI-773 treatment in the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.
Project description:Recent development of new immune checkpoint inhibitors has been particularly successfully in cancer treatment, but still the majority patients fail to benefit. Converting resistant tumors to immunotherapy sensitivity will provide a significant improvement in patient outcome. Here we identify Mi-2β as a key melanoma-intrinsic effector regulating the adaptive anti-tumor immune response. Genetically engineered mouse melanoma studies indicate that loss of Mi-2β rescued the immune response to immunotherapy in vivo. Mechanistically, ATAC-seq indicate that Mi-2β controlled the accessibility of IFN-γ-stimulated genes (ISGs). Mi-2β bound to EZH2 and promote K510 methylation of EZH2 and subsequently activate the trimethylation of H3K27 to inhibit the transcription of ISGs. Finally, we develop an Mi-2β-targeted inhibitor, Z36-MP5, which targeted inhibition of Mi-2β ATPase activity and recovered ISG transcription. Consequently, Z36-MP5 efficiently induce a response to immunotherapy in otherwise resistant melanomas. Our work provides a potential therapeutic strategy to convert immunotherapy resistant melanomas to sensitive ones.
Project description:In this study, we used a cardiac-specific, inducible expression system to activate YAP in adult mouse heart. Activation of YAP in adult heart promoted cardiomyocyte proliferation and did not deleteriously affect heart function. Furthermore, YAP activation after myocardial infarction (MI) preserved heart function and reduced infarct size. Using adeno-associated virus subtype 9 (AAV9) as a delivery vector, we expressed human YAP in the murine myocardium immediately after MI. We found that AAV9:hYAP significantly improved cardiac function and mouse survival. AAV9:hYAP did not exert its salutary effects by reducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Rather, we found that AAV9:hYAP stimulated adult cardiomyocyte proliferation. Gene expression profiling indicated that AAV9:hYAP stimulated cell cycle gene expression, enhanced TGFβ-signaling, and activated of components of the inflammatory response.Cardiac specific YAP activation after MI mitigated myocardial injury after MI, improved cardiac function and mouse survival. These findings suggest that therapeutic activation of hYAP or its downstream targets, potentially through AAV-mediated gene therapy, may be a strategy to improve outcome after MI. Three groups were involved in this study: sham group, AAV9:Luci+MI group and AAV9-YAP+MI group. Each group contained three biological replicates. The sham group had neither myocardial infarction nor AAV injection. The AAV9:Luci +MI(L for brief) group had myocardial infarction and injected with AAV9:Luic. The AAV9:hYAP+MI(YAP for brief) group had myocardial infarction and injected with AAV9:hYAP. 5 days after MI and AAV injection, the heart apexes were collected and the total RNA were isolated for microarray analysis.
Project description:Male C57Bl/6 mice were randomized to undergo 5 days of i) a shiftwork protocol (10-hour light: 10-hour dark cycle) before myocardial infarction (MI) surgery, ii) a normal 12-hour light: 12-hour dark environment before MI surgery, iii) a normal 12-hour light: 12-hour dark environment and used as sham controls, or iv) a shiftwork protocol (10-hour light: 10-hour dark cycle) and used as sham controls. MI surgery was performed on the 5th day, after which all mice were returned to a normal 12-hour light: 12-hour dark cycle. Hearts were collected 24-hours post-MI at ZT06. The microarray approach allows the investigation of transcriptome-wide gene expression changes in hearts from mice on a shiftwork cycle or on a regular light:dark cycle before MI.
Project description:In this study we aimed to analyze the biological mechanisms underlying apparently different modes of peritoneal tumor spread in serous ovarian cancer: miliary (widespread, millet-like lesions) versus non-miliary (bigger, exophytically growing implants). Tumor tissues and ascites from 23 chemotherapy naive patients were analyzed by RNA-sequencing and flow cytometry. On the basis of differential gene expression between miliary and non-miliary, gene signatures were developed. A calculated tumor spread factor revealed a significant independent negative impact of miliary spread on overall survival (HR 3.77; CI95 1.14–12.39; p = 0.029) in an independent cohort of 165 serous ovarian cancer patients. Comparing previously published epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) gene signatures, non-miliary spread correlated significantly with a reduced epithelial status. We conclude that serous ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease with distinct modes of peritoneal tumor spread, differing not only in clinical appearance, but also in molecular characteristics and outcome. EMT, peritoneal inflammation status, and therapeutic options are discussed. Significance: More than half of serous epithelial ovarian cancer patients present with a newly described type of intraperitoneal tumor spread, associated with differences in the inflammation status, activated oncogenic pathways, lack of EMT, and thus reduced overall survival. Both, the diminished immune reaction and the enhanced epithelial and malignant characteristics of the tumor cells open new avenues for therapeutic options and strategies, like Catumaxomab, already in clinical use.
Project description:In this study, we used a cardiac-specific, inducible expression system to activate YAP in adult mouse heart. Activation of YAP in adult heart promoted cardiomyocyte proliferation and did not deleteriously affect heart function. Furthermore, YAP activation after myocardial infarction (MI) preserved heart function and reduced infarct size. Using adeno-associated virus subtype 9 (AAV9) as a delivery vector, we expressed human YAP in the murine myocardium immediately after MI. We found that AAV9:hYAP significantly improved cardiac function and mouse survival. AAV9:hYAP did not exert its salutary effects by reducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Rather, we found that AAV9:hYAP stimulated adult cardiomyocyte proliferation. Gene expression profiling indicated that AAV9:hYAP stimulated cell cycle gene expression, enhanced TGFβ-signaling, and activated of components of the inflammatory response.Cardiac specific YAP activation after MI mitigated myocardial injury after MI, improved cardiac function and mouse survival. These findings suggest that therapeutic activation of hYAP or its downstream targets, potentially through AAV-mediated gene therapy, may be a strategy to improve outcome after MI.