Leukaemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) inhibits cancer stem cells tumorigenic properties through hippo kinases activation in gastric cancer

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) present chemo-resistance mechanisms contributing to tumour maintenance and recurrence, making their targeting of utmost importance in gastric cancer (GC) therapy. The Hippo pathway has been implicated in gastric CSC properties and was shown to be regulated by leukaemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) and its ligand LIF in breast cancer. This study aimed to determine LIF’s effect on CSC properties in GC cell lines and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cells, which remains unexplored. LIF’s treatment effect on CSC markers expression and tumoursphere formation was evaluated. The Hippo kinase inhibitor XMU-MP-1 and/or the JAK1 inhibitor Ruxolitinib were used to determine Hippo and canonical JAK/STAT pathway involvement in gastric CSCs’ response to LIF. Results indicate that LIF decreased tumorigenic and chemo-resistant CSCs, in both GC cell lines and PDX cells. In addition, LIF increased activation of LATS1/2 Hippo kinases, thereby decreasing downstream YAP/TAZ nuclear accumulation and TEAD transcriptional activity. LIF’s anti-CSC effect was reversed by XMU-MP-1 but not by Ruxolitinib treatment, highlighting the opposite effects of these two pathways downstream LIFR. In conclusion, LIF displays anti-CSC properties in GC, through Hippo kinases activation, and could in fine constitute a new CSCs-targeting strategy to help decrease relapse cases and bad prognosis in GC.Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research and Innovation/[]//FranciaLigue Nationale Française Contre le Cancer (French National League against Cancer)/[]//FranciaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[]/UCR/Costa RicaMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones/[]/MICITT/Costa RicaFrench National Cancer Institute/[PLBio 2014-152]/INCa/FranciaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA

TAZ Controls Helicobacter pylori-Induced Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Stem Cell-Like Invasive and Tumorigenic Properties

Helicobacter pylori infection, the main risk factor for gastric cancer (GC), leads to an epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of gastric epithelium contributing to gastric cancer stem cell (CSC) emergence. The Hippo pathway e ectors yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ binding motif (TAZ) control cancer initiation and progression in many cancers including GC. Here, we investigated the role of TAZ in the early steps of H. pylori-mediated gastric carcinogenesis. TAZ implication in EMT, invasion, and CSC-related tumorigenic properties were evaluated in three gastric epithelial cell lines infected by H. pylori. We showed that H. pylori infection increased TAZ nuclear expression and transcriptional enhancer TEA domain (TEAD) transcription factors transcriptional activity. Nuclear TAZ and zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) were co-overexpressed in cells harboring a mesenchymal phenotype in vitro, and in areas of regenerative hyperplasia in gastric mucosa of H. pylori-infected patients and experimentally infected mice, as well as at the invasive front of gastric carcinoma. TAZsilencing reduced ZEB1 expression andEMTphenotype, and strongly inhibited invasion and tumorsphere formation induced by H. pylori. In conclusion, TAZ activation in response to H. pylori infection contributes to H. pylori-induced EMT, invasion, and CSC-like tumorigenic properties. TAZ overexpression in H. pylori-induced pre-neoplastic lesions and in GC could therefore constitute a biomarker of early transformation in gastric carcinogenesis.Ligue Nationale Française Contre le Cancer (French National League against Cancer)/[]//FranciaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[]/UCR/Costa RicaMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones/[]/MICITT/Costa RicaFrench National Cancer Institute/[PLBio 2014-152]/INCa/FranciaLigue Contre le Cancer/[]//FranciaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA

The Hippo Kinase LATS2 Controls Helicobacter pylori-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Intestinal Metaplasia in Gastric Mucosa

Gastric carcinoma is related mostly to CagA+-Helicobacter pylori infection, which disrupts the gastric mucosa turnover and elicits an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and preneoplastic transdifferentiation. The tumor suppressor Hippo pathway controls stem cell homeostasis; its core, constituted by the large tumor suppressor 2 (LATS2) kinase and its substrate Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), was investigated in this context.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA

Identification of a structural element of the hepatitis C virus minus strand RNA involved in the initiation of RNA synthesis

The replication of the genomic RNA of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) of positive polarity involves the synthesis of a replication intermediate of negative polarity by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5B). In vitro and likely in vivo, the NS5B initiates RNA synthesis without primers. This de novo mechanism needs specific interactions between the polymerase and viral RNA elements. Cis-acting elements involved in the initiation of (–) RNA synthesis have been identified in the 3′ non-coding region and in the NS5B coding region of the HCV RNA. However, the detailed contribution of sequences and/or structures of (–) RNA involved in the initiation of (+) RNA synthesis has been less studied. In this report, we identified an RNA element localized between nucleotides 177 and 222 from the 3′-end of the (–) RNA that is necessary for efficient initiation of RNA synthesis by the recombinant NS5B. By site-directed mutagenesis experiments, we demonstrate that the structure rather than the primary sequence of this domain is important for RNA synthesis. We also demonstrate that the intact structure of this RNA element is also needed for efficient RNA synthesis when the viral NS5B functions in association with other viral and cellular proteins in cultured hepatic cells

La transition épithélio-mésenchymateuse dans les cellules épithéliales gastriques (rôle des microARN régulés par Helicobacter pylori)

Les microARN sont de petits ARN non codant régulant post-transcriptionnellement l expression de certains gènes. Du fait de leur fort potentiel régulateur, une modification de leur expression peut conduire à l apparition de pathologies telles que le cancer ou l inhibition des mécanismes de défense contre des pathogènes. Notre objectif est de caractériser le rôle de certains miARN dans la formation de cancer gastrique dû à Helicobacter pylori. En effet, cette bactérie peut conduire à l apparition d adénocarcinome gastrique et de lymphome du MALT. Sa virulence est essentiellement due à la protéine CagA, injectée dans les cellules de la muqueuse gastrique. Par séquençage à haut débit du contenu en miARN d une lignée épithéliale gastrique humaine, co-cultivée ou non avec H. pylori, nous avons observé que les niveaux de miR-200b/c sont augmentés par l infection. Ces miARN sont des inhibiteurs puissants de la transition épithélio-mésenchymateurse (TEM), modification morphologique promotrice d invasion. Ils ciblent les facteurs de transcription ZEB1/2 avec lesquels ils sont impliqués dans une boucle de rétro-action mutuellement répressive. Le niveau basal élevé de miR-200b/c dans ces cellules réprime totalement ZEB1, tandis que l infection par H. pylori, sous la dépendance de CagA, promeut une TEM en induisant ZEB1. Paradoxalement, les miR-200b/c sont aussi augmentés lors de l infection transcriptionnellement. Nous avons pu démontrer que l augmentation des miR-200b/c dans les cellules infectées a pour rôle de modérer l induction de ZEB1 via l activation de NF-kB, constituant ainsi un mécanisme de défense des cellules hôte contre la perte de leur identité épithéliale.MicroRNA are small noncoding RNA that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. Due to their high regulator potential, a change in their expression may lead to the emergence of diseases such as cancer or inhibition of defense mechanisms against pathogens. Our aim is to characterize the role of miRNA in the response of gastric eptithelial cells to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Indeed, H. pylori promote gastric adenocarcinoma and MALT lymphoma. Its virulence is essentially mediated by CagA, injected into cells of the gastric mucosa. Thanks to high throughput sequencing of miRNA content of a gastric epithelial cell line, infected or not with H. pylori: miR-200b and -200c appeared up-regulated upon infection. These miRNA are potent inhibitors of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that drastically alters cell morphology and promotes cell invasion. MiR-200b/c target the transcription factors ZEB1 and ZEB2, with which they are involved in a mutually repressive feedback loop. In basal conditions, the high levels miR-200b/c in gastric epithelial cells totally silence ZEB1 mRNA whereas H. pylori promotes EMT via ZEB1 expression, on the dependence of CagA translocation into host cells. But, paradoxically, miR-200b/c levels were also up-regulated upon infection. The increased miR-200b/c levels in infected cells moderate ZEB1 induction thanks to NF-kB activation and constitute a self-defense mechanism to thwart the loss of their epithelial phenotype upon infection.BORDEAUX2-Bib. électronique (335229905) / SudocSudocFranceF

Potentialisation de l'effet cytotoxique de drogues anti-tumorales par surexpression de la protéine p21 WAF1/CIP1 dans les carcinomes ovariens humains in vitro

CAEN-BU Médecine pharmacie (141182102) / SudocLYON1-BU Santé (693882101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Identification d'un peptide antiviral contre le virus de l'Hépatite C par une méthode de sélection in cellulo d'éléments génétiques

L'infection par le virus de l'hépatite C (VHC) représente un problème de santé publique. Le VHC est un virus ARN dont la traduction dépend d'un site d'entrée interne du ribosome (IRES) situé dans la région 5' non codante. Afin d'identifier des éléments génétiques du VHC régulateur de sa traduction, nous avons mis en oeuvre une stratégie combinatoire dans un environnement cellulaire. Une banque de fragments aléataoires du génome du VHC a été introduite sous forme de rétrovirus dans des cellules cibles hépatiques exprimant un gène rapporteur sous dépendance de l'IRES du VHC. La sélection des cellules cibles présentant un changement d'expression du rapporteur a permis d'identifier des éléments de la banque potentiellement actifs sur sa traduction. L'étude approfondie d'un élément a conduit à l'identification d'un peptide structuré en hélice a amphiphile, inhibiteur de l'activité de traductionnelle dépendante de l'IRES de VHC et des étapes précoces du cycle viral dans un système de culture cellulaire.The hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem worldwide. HCV is a single stranded, positive sensed RNA virus. Its translation is mediated by an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) located in the 5' untranslated region. With the aim to identify HCV genetic elements (GE) involved in the control of HCV translation, we developed a combinatorial strategy in cellulo, inspired by the GSE (genetic suppressor elements) technology. A random HCV fragment library was inroduced by retroviral transduction into human hepatic cell lines, expressing a reporter gene under the HCV IRES dependence. The selection of cells with a modified IRES-dependent phenotype led to the identication of several elements presenting some potential activity on HCV translation. We further analyzed the action of one of them and delineated a peptide constituted by the amphipatic a helix, able ro inhibit IRES-dependent translation and HCV infection in a cell culture system.BORDEAUX2-BU Santé (330632101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Expression and Localization of αv Integrins and Their Ligand Vitronectin in Normal Ovarian Epithelium and in Ovarian Carcinoma

International audienc

Helicobacter pylori interferes with an embryonic stem cell micro RNA cluster to block cell cycle progression

Background MicroRNAs, post-transcriptional regulators of eukaryotic gene expression, are implicated in host defense against pathogens. Viruses and bacteria have evolved strategies that suppress microRNA functions, resulting in a sustainable infection. In this work we report that Helicobacter pylori, a human stomach-colonizing bacterium responsible for severe gastric inflammatory diseases and gastric cancers, downregulates an embryonic stem cell microRNA cluster in proliferating gastric epithelial cells to achieve cell cycle arrest. Results Using a deep sequencing approach in the AGS cell line, a widely used cell culture model to recapitulate early events of H. pylori infection of gastric mucosa, we reveal that hsa-miR-372 is the most abundant microRNA expressed in this cell line, where, together with hsa-miR-373, it promotes cell proliferation by silencing large tumor suppressor homolog 2 (LATS2) gene expression. Shortly after H. pylori infection, miR-372 and miR-373 synthesis is highly inhibited, leading to the post-transcriptional release of LATS2 expression and thus, to a cell cycle arrest at the G1/S transition. This downregulation of a specific cell-cycle-regulating microRNA is dependent on the translocation of the bacterial effector CagA into the host cells, a mechanism highly associated with the development of severe atrophic gastritis and intestinal-type gastric carcinoma. Conclusions These data constitute a novel example of host-pathogen interplay involving microRNAs, and unveil the couple LATS2/miR-372 and miR-373 as an unexpected mechanism in infection-induced cell cycle arrest in proliferating gastric cells, which may be relevant in inhibition of gastric epithelium renewal, a major host defense mechanism against bacterial infections