Analysis of protein-coding mutations in hiPSCs and their possible role during somatic cell reprogramming

Recent studies indicate that human-induced pluripotent stem cells contain genomic structural variations and point mutations in coding regions. However, these studies have focused on fibroblast-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells, and it is currently unknown whether the use of alternative somatic cell sources with varying reprogramming efficiencies would result in different levels of genetic alterations. Here we characterize the genomic integrity of eight human induced pluripotent stem cell lines derived from five different non-fibroblast somatic cell types. We show that protein-coding mutations are a general feature of the human induced pluripotent stem cell state and are independent of somatic cell source. Furthermore, we analyse a total of 17 point mutations found in human induced pluripotent stem cells and demonstrate that they do not generally facilitate the acquisition of pluripotency and thus are not likely to provide a selective advantage for reprogramming

Identification of a specific reprogramming-associated epigenetic signature in human induced pluripotent stem cells

Generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) by the expression of specific transcription factors depends on successful epigenetic reprogramming to a pluripotent state. Although hiPSCs and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) display a similar epigenome, recent reports demonstrated the persistence of specific epigenetic marks from the somatic cell type of origin and aberrant methylation patterns in hiPSCs. However, it remains unknown whether the use of different somatic cell sources, encompassing variable levels of se- lection pressure during reprogramming, influences the level of epigenetic aberrations in hiPSCs. In this work, we characterized the epigenomic integrity of 17 hiPSC lines derived from six different cell types with varied reprogramming efficiencies. We demonstrate that epigenetic aberrations are a general feature of the hiPSC state and are independent of the somatic cell source. Interestingly, we observe that the reprogramming efficiency of somatic cell lines inversely correlates with the amount of methylation change needed to acquire pluripotency. Additionally, we determine that both shared and line- specific epigenetic aberrations in hiPSCs can directly translate into changes in gene expression in both the pluripotent and differenti- ated states. Significantly, our analysis of different hiPSC lines from multiple cell types of origin allow us to identify a reprogramming- specific epigenetic signature comprised of nine aberrantly methyl- ated genes that is able to segregate hESC and hiPSC lines regardless of the somatic cell source or differentiation state

Investigation of the role of tyrosine kinase receptor EPHA3 in colorectal cancer

EPH signaling deregulation has been shown to be important for colorectal carcinogenesis and genome-wide sequencing efforts have identified EPHA3 as one of the most frequently mutated genes in these tumors. However, the role of EPHA3 in colorectal cancer has not been thoroughly investigated. We show here that ectopic expression of wild type EPHA3 in colon cancer cells did not affect their growth, motility/invasion or metastatic potential in vivo. Moreover, overexpression of mutant EPHA3 or deletion of the endogenous mutant EPHA3 in colon cancer cells did not affect their growth or motility. EPHA3 inactivation in mice did not initiate the tumorigenic process in their intestine, and had no effects on tumor size/multiplicity after tumor initiation either genetically or pharmacologically. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis of EPHA3 tumor levels did not reveal associations with survival or clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer patients. In conclusion, we show that EPHA3 does not play a major role in colorectal tumorigenesis. These results significantly contribute to our understanding of the role of EPH signaling during colorectal carcinogenesis, and highlighting the need for detailed functional studies to confirm the relevance of putative cancer driver genes identified in sequencing efforts of the cancer genome

Investigation of the role of tyrosine kinase receptor EPHA3 in colorectal cancer

Tyrosine kinase; EPHA3; Colorectal cancerTirosina-cinasa; EPHA3; Càncer colorectalTirosina quinasa; EPHA3; Cáncer colorrectalEPH signaling deregulation has been shown to be important for colorectal carcinogenesis and genome-wide sequencing efforts have identified EPHA3 as one of the most frequently mutated genes in these tumors. However, the role of EPHA3 in colorectal cancer has not been thoroughly investigated. We show here that ectopic expression of wild type EPHA3 in colon cancer cells did not affect their growth, motility/invasion or metastatic potential in vivo. Moreover, overexpression of mutant EPHA3 or deletion of the endogenous mutant EPHA3 in colon cancer cells did not affect their growth or motility. EPHA3 inactivation in mice did not initiate the tumorigenic process in their intestine, and had no effects on tumor size/multiplicity after tumor initiation either genetically or pharmacologically. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis of EPHA3 tumor levels did not reveal associations with survival or clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer patients. In conclusion, we show that EPHA3 does not play a major role in colorectal tumorigenesis. These results significantly contribute to our understanding of the role of EPH signaling during colorectal carcinogenesis, and highlighting the need for detailed functional studies to confirm the relevance of putative cancer driver genes identified in sequencing efforts of the cancer genome

Mechanisms of inactivation of the tumour suppressor gene RHOA in colorectal cancer

Reduced RHOA signalling has been shown to increase the growth/metastatic potential of colorectal tumours. However, the mechanisms of inactivation of RHOA signalling in colon cancer have not been characterised. A panel of colorectal cancer cell lines and large cohorts of primary tumours were used to investigate the expression and activity of RHOA, as well as the presence of RHOA mutations/deletions and promoter methylation affecting RHOA. Changes in RHOA expression were assessed by western blotting and qPCR after modulation of microRNAs, SMAD4 and c-MYC. We show here that RHOA point mutations and promoter hypermethylation do not significantly contribute to the large variability of RHOA expression observed among colorectal tumours. However, RHOA copy number loss was observed in 16% of colorectal tumours and this was associated with reduced RHOA expression. Moreover, we show that miR-200a/b/429 downregulates RHOA in colorectal cancer cells. In addition, we found that TGF- β /SMAD4 upregulates the RHOA promoter. Conversely, RHOA expression is transcriptionally downregulated by canonical Wnt signalling through the Wnt target gene c-MYC that interferes with the binding of SP1 to the RHOA promoter in colon cancer cells. We demonstrate a complex pattern of inactivation of the tumour suppressor gene RHOA in colon cancer cells through genetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms

”Pictures and text in textbooks, a better way for teachers to take in the information.” : A multimodal text analysis of three textbooks in english, for the fourth grade

The purpose of this study is to analyze and compare the connection between pictures and text in three textbooks, in english, in the expectation to reach a didactic perspective that can facilitate in working with texts with students, in fourth grade.  How well do pictures and text correspond with each other in three textbooks that have been chosen for the fourth grade, in english?  What are the differences and similarities between the three textbooks seen from a multimodal perspecive? The result showed that there was an interaction between the different types of text types and the images, in all three textbooks. The heading of each chapter is a clue to what the content of the text will be about. The images are well connected to the text and they also reenforce the content of the text. This connection between the pictures used in the chapter and the text can help readers better understand the content of the text.

The Impact of Treated Urban Wastewaters and Flood Discharge on the Quality of Bathing Water

What do we know about the Adriatic Sea and the state of its health [...

Macrohistone Variants Preserve Cell Identity by Preventing the Gain of H3K4me2 during Reprogramming to Pluripotency

Transcription-factor-induced reprogramming of somatic cells to pluripotency is a very inefficient process, probably due to the existence of important epigenetic barriers that are imposed during differentiation and that contribute to preserving cell identity. In an effort to decipher the molecular nature of these barriers, we followed a genome-wide approach, in which we identified macrohistone variants (macroH2A) as highly expressed in human somatic cells but downregulated after reprogramming to pluripotency, as well as strongly induced during differentiation. Knockdown of macrohistone variants in human keratinocytes increased the efficiency of reprogramming to pluripotency, whereas overexpression had opposite effects. Genome-wide occupancy profiles show that in human keratinocytes, macroH2A.1 preferentially occupies genes that are expressed at low levels and are marked with H3K27me3, including pluripotency-related genes and bivalent developmental regulators. The presence of macroH2A.1 at these genes prevents the regain of H3K4me2 during reprogramming, imposing an additional layer of repression that preserves cell identity

RhoA downregulation in the murine intestinal epithelium results in chronic Wnt activation and increased tumorigenesis

Rho GTPases are molecular switches regulating multiple cellular processes. To investigate the role of RhoA in normal intestinal physiology, we used a conditional mouse model overexpressing a dominant negative RhoA mutant (RhoAT19N) in the intestinal epithelium. Although RhoA inhibition did not cause an overt phenotype, increased levels of nuclear β-catenin were observed in the small intestinal epithelium of RhoAT19N mice, and the overexpression of multiple Wnt target genes revealed a chronic activation of Wnt signaling. Elevated Wnt signaling in RhoAT19N mice and intestinal organoids did not affect the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells but significantly interfered with their differentiation. Importantly, 17-month-old RhoAT19N mice showed a significant increase in the number of spontaneous intestinal tumors. Altogether, our results indicate that RhoA regulates the differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells and inhibits tumor initiation, likely through the control of Wnt signaling, a key regulator of proliferation and differentiation in the intestine.</p

RhoA downregulation in the murine intestinal epithelium results in chronic Wnt activation and increased tumorigenesis

Rho GTPases are molecular switches regulating multiple cellular processes. To investigate the role of RhoA in normal intestinal physiology, we used a conditional mouse model overexpressing a dominant negative RhoA mutant (RhoAT19N) in the intestinal epithelium. Although RhoA inhibition did not cause an overt phenotype, increased levels of nuclear β-catenin were observed in the small intestinal epithelium of RhoAT19N mice, and the overexpression of multiple Wnt target genes revealed a chronic activation of Wnt signaling. Elevated Wnt signaling in RhoAT19N mice and intestinal organoids did not affect the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells but significantly interfered with their differentiation. Importantly, 17-month-old RhoAT19N mice showed a significant increase in the number of spontaneous intestinal tumors. Altogether, our results indicate that RhoA regulates the differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells and inhibits tumor initiation, likely through the control of Wnt signaling, a key regulator of proliferation and differentiation in the intestine.</p