Project description:We use scRNA-seq to investigate the intercellular heterogeneity of the p53 transcriptional response to oncogenic stress. Comparisons of the transcriptomes of cells collected in the absence and in the presence of p53 activation revealed the expected upregulation of direct p53 target genes as well as the downregulation of E2F- and Myc-target genes, previously indirectly linked to the p53 pathway. Strikingly, the majority of previously defined p53 core target genes were induced in only a fraction of the cells. In addition, we identified two distinct subsets of cells within the p53-responsive group, differentiated by their expression of proliferative and metabolic signatures. While one group was characterized by gene expression changes consistent with a robust halt in cell cycle progression, the second group exhibited a strong activation of genes linked to oxidative phosphorylation. Inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation impaired the ability of cells to undergo p53-induced senescence, highlighting the importance of this pathway in mediating p53 tumor suppressive functions.
Project description:Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women and consists of heterogeneous types of tumours that are classified into different histological and molecular subtypes1-3. Pik3ca and p53 are the two most frequently mutated genes and are associated with different types of human breast cancers4. The cellular origin and the mechanisms leading to Pik3ca-induced tumour heterogeneity remain unknown. Here, we used a genetic approach in mice to define the cellular origin of Pik3ca-derived tumours and its impact on tumour heterogeneity. Surprisingly, oncogenic Pik3ca-H1047R expression at physiological levels5 in basal cells (BCs) using K5CREERT2 induced the formation of luminal ER+PR+ tumours, while its expression in luminal cells (LCs) using K8CREERT2 gave rise to luminal ER+PR+ tumours or basal-like ER-PR- tumours. Concomitant deletion of p53 and expression of Pik3ca-H1047R accelerated tumour development and induced more aggressive mammary tumours. Interestingly, expression of Pik3ca-H1047R in unipotent BCs gave rise to luminal-like cells, while its expression in unipotent LCs gave rise to basal-like cells before progressing into invasive tumours. Transcriptional profiling of cells that have undergone cell fate transition upon Pik3ca-H1047R expression in unipotent progenitors demonstrate a profound oncogene-induced reprogramming of these newly formed cells and identified gene signatures, characteristic of the different cell fate switches that occur upon Pik3ca-H1047R expression in BC and LCs, which correlated with the cell of origin, tumour type and different clinical outcomes. Altogether our study identifies the cellular origin of Pik3ca-induced tumours and reveals that oncogenic Pik3ca-H1047R activates a multipotent genetic program in normally lineage-restricted populations at the early stage of tumour initiation, setting the stage for future intratumoural heterogeneity. These results have important implications for our understanding of the mechanisms controlling tumour heterogeneity and the development of new strategies to block PIK3CA breast cancer initiation. Luminal and basal cells, or tumour cells, from mice in which expression of PIK3CA-H1047R and YFP (and in some conditions loss of p53) was targeted in basal cells using K5CREERT2 or in luminal cells using K8CREERT2 were FACS isolated and RNA was extracted before being hybridized Affymetrix microarrays.
Project description:Since oncogenes induce DNA replication stress (RS), cancer cells rely on the intra S-phase checkpoint for survival. Consequently, RS inducing drugs and ATR and CHK1 inhibitors are exploited as anti-cancer therapy. However, drug resistance limits efficient use. This raises the question what determines sensitivity of individual cancer cells to RS. Here, we report that oncogenic RAS dampens the P53 checkpoint which confers sensitivity to RS. We demonstrate that inducible expression of HRASG12V leads to mild RS in RPE-hTERT cells and was sufficient to sensitize cells to ATR and CHK1 inhibitors. Using RNA-sequencing we discovered that P53 signaling is essential for the response to RS. However, oncogenic RAS attenuates transcription of P53 and its target genes. Accordingly, live cell imaging shows that HRASG12V exacerbates RS in S/G2-phase. Thus, our results suggest that hyperactivation of the MAPK pathway could predict durable responses to RS inducing drugs in cancer patients
Project description:Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women and consists of heterogeneous types of tumours that are classified into different histological and molecular subtypes1-3. Pik3ca and p53 are the two most frequently mutated genes and are associated with different types of human breast cancers4. The cellular origin and the mechanisms leading to Pik3ca-induced tumour heterogeneity remain unknown. Here, we used a genetic approach in mice to define the cellular origin of Pik3ca-derived tumours and its impact on tumour heterogeneity. Surprisingly, oncogenic Pik3ca-H1047R expression at physiological levels5 in basal cells (BCs) using K5CREERT2 induced the formation of luminal ER+PR+ tumours, while its expression in luminal cells (LCs) using K8CREERT2 gave rise to luminal ER+PR+ tumours or basal-like ER-PR- tumours. Concomitant deletion of p53 and expression of Pik3ca-H1047R accelerated tumour development and induced more aggressive mammary tumours. Interestingly, expression of Pik3ca-H1047R in unipotent BCs gave rise to luminal-like cells, while its expression in unipotent LCs gave rise to basal-like cells before progressing into invasive tumours. Transcriptional profiling of cells that have undergone cell fate transition upon Pik3ca-H1047R expression in unipotent progenitors demonstrate a profound oncogene-induced reprogramming of these newly formed cells and identified gene signatures, characteristic of the different cell fate switches that occur upon Pik3ca-H1047R expression in BC and LCs, which correlated with the cell of origin, tumour type and different clinical outcomes. Altogether our study identifies the cellular origin of Pik3ca-induced tumours and reveals that oncogenic Pik3ca-H1047R activates a multipotent genetic program in normally lineage-restricted populations at the early stage of tumour initiation, setting the stage for future intratumoural heterogeneity. These results have important implications for our understanding of the mechanisms controlling tumour heterogeneity and the development of new strategies to block PIK3CA breast cancer initiation.
Project description:Each cell type responds uniquely to stress and fractionally contributes to global and tissue-specific stress responses. Hepatocytes, liver macrophages (M?), and sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) play functionally important and interdependent roles in adaptive processes such as wound healing, obesity, and tumor growth. Although these cell types demonstrate significant phenotypic and functional heterogeneity, their distinctions enabling disease-specific responses remain understudied. To address this, we developed a strategy for simultaneous isolation and quantification of these liver cell types based on antigenic cell surface marker expression in response to DEN and found that while there was only a marginal increase in hepatocyte number, M? and SEC populations were quantitatively increased. Global gene expression profiling of hepatocytes, M? and SEC identified characteristic gene “fingerprints” that define each cell type and their distinct physiological or oncogenic stress signatures. Integration of these cell-specific gene fingerprints with available hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient microarray data demonstrates that the hepatocyte-specific response strongly correlates with the human HCC gene expression profile. Liver-specific M? and SEC gene signatures demonstrate significant alterations in inflammatory and angiogenic gene regulatory pathways, which may impact the hepatocyte response to oncogenic stress. Further validation confirms alterations in components of two key pathways, AP-1 and p53, that have been previously associated with HCC onset and progression. Our data reveal unique gene expression patterns that serve as molecular “fingerprints” for the cell-centric responses to pathologic stimuli in the distinct microenvironment of the liver. The technical advance highlighted in this study provides an essential resource for assessing hepatic cell-specific contributions to oncogenic stress, information that could unveil previously unappreciated molecular mechanisms for the cellular crosstalk that underlies the development of hepatic cancer. Total RNA isolated from each specific cell type (Hepatocyte (PH), Sinusoidal Endothelial Cell (SEC), and Macrophage (MP)) pooled from 3-4 DEN-treated mice and compared to their untreated counterparts.
Project description:Activation of the p53 network plays a central role in the inflammatory stress response associated with ulcerative colitis, and may modulate cancer risk in patients afflicted with this chronic disease. The overall goal of these experiments is to study the gene expression profiles associated with four microenvironmental components of the inflammatory response (NO*, DNA damage, DNA replication arrest, and hypoxia) that result in p53 stabilization and activation. To this end, isogenic HCT116 and HCT116 TP53-/- colon cancer cells were exposed to the NO*-donor Sper/NO, H2O2 (DNA damage), hypoxia, or hydroxyurea (HU, DNA replication arrest), and their mRNA was analyzed using oligonucleotide microarrays. Keywords: time series design