scholarly journals Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals estrogen signaling augments the mitochondrial folate pathway to coordinately fuel purine and polyamine synthesis in breast cancer cells

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Detu Zhu ◽  
Xianglan Zhaozu ◽  
Guimei Cui ◽  
Shiehong Chang ◽  
Yi Xiang See ◽  
...  

AbstractEstrogen regulates diverse physiological effects and drives breast tumor progression by directly activating estrogen receptor α (ERα). However, due to the stochastic nature of gene transcription and the resulting heterogeneous cellular response, it is important to investigate estrogen-stimulated gene expression profiles at the single-cell level in order to fully understand how ERα regulates transcription in breast cancer cells. In this study, we performed single-cell transcriptome analysis on ERα-positive breast cancer cell lines following 17β-estradiol stimulation. Overall, we observed robust gene expression diversity between individual cells. Moreover, we found over two thirds of the genes in breast cancer cells displayed a bimodal expression pattern, which caused averaging artifacts and masked the identification of potential estrogen-regulated genes. We overcame this issue by reconstructing a dynamic estrogen-responsive transcriptional network from discrete time points into a pseudotemporal continuum. Pathway analysis of the differentially expressed genes derived from the pseudotemporal analysis showed an estrogen-stimulated metabolic switch that favored biosynthesis and cell proliferation but reduced estrogen degradation. In addition, we identified folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism as a novel estrogen-regulated pathway in breast cancer cells. Notably, estrogen stimulation reprogramed this pathway through the mitochondrial folate pathway to coordinately fuel polyamine and de novo purine synthesis. Finally, we showed AZIN1 and PPAT, key regulators in the above pathways, are direct ERα target genes and essential for breast cancer cell survival and growth. In summary, our single-cell study illustrated a dynamic transcriptional heterogeneity in ERα-positive breast cancer cells in response to estrogen stimulation and uncovered a novel mechanism of an estrogen-mediated metabolic switch.

2020 ◽  
Vol 590 ◽  
pp. 119963
Author(s):  
Xiangshang Xu ◽  
Li Li ◽  
Xiaolan Li ◽  
Deding Tao ◽  
Peng Zhang ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 744-753
Author(s):  
Zahra Rahimzadeh ◽  
Seyed Morteza Naghib ◽  
Esfandyar Askari ◽  
Fatemeh Molaabasi ◽  
Ali Sadr ◽  
...  

Abstract In this paper, we use a simple and cheap approach for the synthesis of herceptin-conjugated graphene biosensor to detect the HER2-positive breast cancer cells. The bifunctional graphene-herceptin nanosheets are prepared from graphite by a simple ultrasonic-mediated technique. The prepared protein-mediated graphene is fully characterized. The results show the exfoliation of graphene layers in herceptin solution. Moreover, herceptin is effectively conjugated into the surface of graphene nanosheets. The synthesized herceptin-conjugated graphene is applied for breast cancer detection. The linear range of this biosensor is 1–80 cells, which is significant. The biosensor shows an excellent selectivity performance for detection of HER2-positive cancer cells. Likewise, the stability and functionality of the biosensor is about 40 days. Based on the results, this device is a promising candidate for rapid and selective detection of cancer cells.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A799-A799
Author(s):  
Dhiraj Kumar ◽  
Sreeharsha Gurrapu ◽  
Hyunho Han ◽  
Yan Wang ◽  
Seongyeon Bae ◽  
...  

BackgroundLong non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in various biological processes and diseases. Malat1 (metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1), also known as Neat2, is one of the most abundant and highly conserved nuclear lncRNAs. Several studies have shown that the expression of lncRNA Malat1 is associated with metastasis and serving as a predictive marker for various tumor progression. Metastatic relapse often develops years after primary tumor removal as a result of disseminated tumor cells undergoing a period of latency in the target organ.1–4 However, the correlation of tumor intrinsic lncRNA in regulation of tumor dormancy and immune evasion is largely unknown.MethodsUsing an in vivo screening platform for the isolation of genetic entities involved in either dormancy or reactivation of breast cancer tumor cells, we have identified Malat1 as a positive mediator of metastatic reactivation. To functionally uncover the role of Malat1 in metastatic reactivation, we have developed a knock out (KO) model by using paired gRNA CRISPR-Cas9 deletion approach in metastatic breast and other cancer types, including lung, colon and melanoma. As proof of concept we also used inducible knockdown system under in vivo models. To delineate the immune micro-environment, we have used 10X genomics single cell RNA-seq, ChIRP-seq, multi-color flowcytometry, RNA-FISH and immunofluorescence.ResultsOur results reveal that the deletion of Malat1 abrogates the tumorigenic and metastatic potential of these tumors and supports long-term survival without affecting their ploidy, proliferation, and nuclear speckles formation. In contrast, overexpression of Malat1 leads to metastatic reactivation of dormant breast cancer cells. Moreover, the loss of Malat1 in metastatic cells induces dormancy features and inhibits cancer stemness. Our RNA-seq and ChIRP-seq data indicate that Malat1 KO downregulates several immune evasion and stemness associated genes. Strikingly, Malat1 KO cells exhibit metastatic outgrowth when injected in T cells defective mice. Our single-cell RNA-seq cluster analysis and multi-color flow cytometry data show a greater proportion of T cells and reduce Neutrophils infiltration in KO mice which indicate that the immune microenvironment playing an important role in Malat1-dependent immune evasion. Mechanistically, loss of Malat1 is associated with reduced expression of Serpinb6b, which protects the tumor cells from cytotoxic killing by the T cells. Indeed, overexpression of Serpinb6b rescued the metastatic potential of Malat1 KO cells by protecting against cytotoxic T cells.ConclusionsCollectively, our data indicate that targeting this novel cancer-cell-initiated domino effect within the immune system represents a new strategy to inhibit tumor metastatic reactivation.Trial RegistrationN/AEthics ApprovalFor all the animal studies in the present study, the study protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee(IACUC) of UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.ConsentN/AReferencesArun G, Diermeier S, Akerman M, et al., Differentiation of mammary tumors and reduction in metastasis upon Malat1 lncRNA loss. Genes Dev 2016 Jan 1;30(1):34–51.Filippo G. Giancotti, mechanisms governing metastatic dormancy and reactivation. Cell 2013 Nov 7;155(4):750–764.Gao H, Chakraborty G, Lee-Lim AP, et al., The BMP inhibitor Coco reactivates breast cancer cells at lung metastatic sites. Cell 2012b;150:764–779.Gao H, Chakraborty G, Lee-Lim AP, et al., Forward genetic screens in mice uncover mediators and suppressors of metastatic reactivation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014 Nov 18; 111(46): 16532–16537.


Author(s):  
Jun Hua ◽  
Zhe Zhang ◽  
Lili Zhang ◽  
Yan Sun ◽  
Yuan Yuan

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to investigate the possibility of UCP-2 inhibitor in reducing acquired resistance of trastuzumab to improve the outcome of patients receiving trastuzumab therapy by exploring the relationship between UCP-2 expression and HER2 signaling pathway and examining whether UCP-2 expression was modulated by trastuzumab treatment. Methods 32 women diagnosed with primary HER2-positive breast cancer were recruited in this study. Needle biopsy was obtained from patients before they received at least four cycles neoadjuvant therapy containing trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy. Surgical tumor biopsy was obtained during surgical procedure after the neoadjuvant therapy. Levels of HER2 phosphorylation and UCP-2 expression were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and compared between tumor needle biopsy tissue and surgical tumor samples of these patients, as well as in BT474 breast cancer cells before and after trastuzumab treatment. HER2-selective phosphorylation/kinase activity inhibitor ONT-380 was used to identify the correlation between HER2 phosphorylation level and UCP-2 expression. UCP-2 inhibitor Genipin was then used to evaluate the apoptosis index in BT474 cells treated with trastuzumab. Results UCP-2 expression was significantly elevated in surgical tumor samples from breast cancer patients receiving trastuzumab in a neoadjuvant setting. We further confirmed our findings in HER2-positive BT474 cell line and found that trastuzumab treatment induced phosphorylation of HER2 and the overexpression of UCP-2, and the latter can be reversed by HER2 selective kinase inhibitor ONT-380. Moreover, UCP-2 inhibitor Genipin significantly enhanced the proliferation suppression effects of trastuzumab and markedly promoted apoptosis. Conclusion Taken together, our study identified UCP-2 as a novel therapeutic target for HER2 positive breast cancer and UCP-2 inhibitor may have great potential to enhance the response rate and efficacy of trastuzumab therapy.


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